Ottawa, October 4, 2012 — Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney arrives in Ireland tomorrow for an official visit to promote Canada as a destination for international talent.
On the Minister’s agenda is a visit to Dublin’s Working Abroad Expo recruitment fair. He will promote Canada’s strong economy and encourage talent from Ireland to apply for jobs to work in Canada.
“The Government of Canada is committed to building an immigration system that actively recruits talent rather than passively processing all applications that we receive,” said Minister Kenney. “That’s why I’m visiting this job fair to personally market all the opportunities that Canada has to offer to talented individuals from around the world.”
The Government of Canada is building a fast and flexible economic immigration system whose primary focus is on meeting Canada’s labour market needs. The government is exploring with provinces, territories and employers approaches to developing a pool of skilled workers who could be selected to immigrate to Canada and who are ready to begin employment here.
“This is the next frontier in Canadian immigration: looking at opportunities to attract the best talent and going out there and getting it,” said Minister Kenney.
In recent years, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has undertaken much needed reforms to strengthen Canada’s immigration system and better support the country’s economic needs. The creation of a modernized, efficient economic immigration program for Canada provides an opportunity for an increased role for employers in identifying economic immigrants that could make a contribution to their workplace. Such a role could help achieve a better match between skilled immigrant supply and labour market demand, which is of concern to Canadian employers.
During his trip to Ireland, Minister Kenney will also discuss opportunities for young people from Ireland to work in Canada as part of the International Experience Canada program.
Members of the media as well as cultural communities interested in receiving photographs from the trip, or being notified of media availabilities, should send an email to CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca with their contact information.
Photos of Minister Kenney available at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/high-res/index.asp.
For further information (media only), please contact:
Alexis Pavlich
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.
