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Federal citizenship minister Joe Volpe and Ontario's minister
of training, colleges and universities Mary Anne Chambers have announced a joint
initiative to strengthen higher level and job-specific language
training for internationally trained newcomers in the province.
The Ontario government and CIC are jointly investing $3.4 million over
two years to support 13 projects under the Enhanced Language Training
Initiative. The projects will deliver job-specific language training
to more than 1,300 internationally trained individuals to help them
make the transition to Ontario's workforce.
"One of the keys to our continued prosperity and competitiveness will
be the degree to which foreign-trained professionals and skilledworkers are able to successfully integrate into society and our
workforce," said Minister Volpe. "The Government of Canada invests
$20 million annually in its Enhanced Language Training Initiative and
I am pleased to work with Ontario so that more immigrants can pursue
professions and trades that make full use of the talents and skills
they bring to Canada."
"Our government recognizes the important contribution newcomers make
to ensuring a strong and prosperous economy for all Ontarians,"
Chambers said. "By providing the internationally trained with higher
level language training, we are helping them to be successful in their
efforts to obtain employment in the occupations for which they have
been trained. It is important to all Ontarians that these skills not
go to waste."
More than 70 per cent of adult immigrants who come to Ontario are
highly skilled with postsecondary education or training. While the
provincial and federal governments have a long history of providing
basic English and French as second language programs, the issue for
internationally trained individuals has been the requirement for
higher level language skills that are specific to each occupation.
"The funding will allow us to develop and deliver higher level language
training that will help newcomers carry out successful job searches
and work effectively in our workplaces," said Phyllis Sereda,
Executive Director of the Peel Adult Learning Centre in Mississauga.
This investment is part of the Ontario government's plan to improve
access for the internationally trained to their chosen professions and
trades. Ontario is providing $12.5 million annually to meet this
commitment.
"Our goal in negotiating a Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement is to
help newcomers integrate successfully into the economy and the
community," said Dr. Marie Bountrogianni, Ontario Minister of
Citizenship and Immigration. "Higher level language training for
newcomers is an essential part of helping them bridge the gap to
become employed in jobs for which they are trained and qualified."
Initiatives to meet the commitment include:
- Working with professional regulatory bodies and employers to
increase access and eliminate barriers to credential recognition and
job entry
- Expanding training services to help internationally trained individuals make the transition to Ontario's workforce
- Improving information on employment opportunities and requirements for individuals considering immigration to Ontario.
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