Hazel’s Blog May 10, 2012
Wandering on Canada’s
evolving immigration path of change, worldwide job bank full of skilled workers
“Ottawa wants to create a worldwide job bank for skilled
foreign workers” for us to pick from as needed. Canada already has a pool of
skilled workers here in Canada who immigrated over the years and ended up in
survival and/or transitional jobs. It
would be interesting to know if it is possible to provide the type of bridging
program that really does fast track an international professional, skilled
worker into their field of expertise addressing skill and cultural pockets by
credible universities, colleges and technical institutes, all which would
provide documentation to validate that our newcomer is really ready, willing
and able to obtain and maintain employment in their occupation here in Canada. Let us not forget about those who are already
here and with some updating could be working in their profession as a skilled
worker, which they were meant to be. Meanwhile have our global glasses on seeking
out the cream of the crop from the global pool to meet Canada’s industry needs.
Labour market forecast so I hear is to be one of turbulence, filled with labour
shortages partially due to the boomers are leaving the world of work. I believe all occupations will suffer a loss
especially the medical field and elder care facilities, the numbers are on the
edge of increasing. Due to the boomers
and Canada’s low birth rate, we will be experiencing a shortage of skilled
workers over the next few years and beyond. I keep hearing we won’t have the
people power to maintain our economy if we don’t act now and have immigration
plans, policies, acts in place to support our industry needs and how we can
bring the those who are ready to work asap. Are we panicking yet? Is there reason for concern? What about
health care are there sufficient funds and facilities to care for our aging boomers? What about the newcomers, I hope they are not
looked upon as tools for Canada’s tool box.
Hopefully not just the principal applicant will be taken into
consideration, but also the holistic settlement needs of his/her family to
ensure a quick and smooth integration process.
I believe that if well prepared newcomers experience less stress,
confidence isn’t totally lost and the feeling of belonging does cushion the
process if they are treated like people and not just industry tools. I am pleased with all the good work our not
for profit government monitored settlement agencies are doing Canada wide. Also I’m impressed with the Canadian
Immigration Integration program a much needed service that should have been
activated many years ago. New Canadians, those who have been accepted and
approved to immigrate to Canada as permanent residents receive orientation to
Canada and then one to one consultation to develop an action plan and resources
to match their needs. It’s amazing how
they start to use the Working in Canada Tool to help them identify the city and
province which best meets their employment needs; also cost of living is
explored. This program has really helped
newcomers before they even leave their country of origin. The CIIP orientation officer upon completion
of their service in country of origin immediately refers the newcomer to a
credible settlement agency and they are connected to a settlement practitioner
who guides them all the way through their integration from country of origin to
city of destination (no fees). They the
newcomer doesn’t have time to slip through the cracks that have swallowed up
many of our previous newcomers whose skills have gone unused. They say the best place to have a heart attack
is in a taxi cab; the driver is probably a doctor and perhaps a heart
specialist/surgeon. I’m wondering how the Global Pool of Skilled Workers will
work out? Hopefully an employment match
will occur and settlement will be less stressful for all involved. It is important to track and stay in contact
with our newcomers to be ready to help them if they fall. After all they are Canada’s future
taxpayers. Minister Jason Kenney states:
“If they get that job offer and if they’re already among our qualified pool of
candidates, we’d bring them in a light speed because we know they’re set for
success.” I wonder how this success step
was missed in the past and I’m still wondering about the doctor driving the
cab, the registered head nurse who is cleaning daycares, and the engineers, the
technicians who are working two or three fast food jobs just to get by. All of
these jobs are valuable, but one needs to be working in the field that they
were educated for, and paid for. Overall I’m happy to hear that the word
employed is going to be attached to our skilled workers who are yet to come.
