Immigration to support Canada’s economic needs Presentation to the Leaders Summit on Immigrant Employment, Vancouver September 18, 2012

Canada is competing globally for skilled immigrants, with an uneven distribution of anticipated shortages across regions, sectors, occupations Provinces and territories are engaged in selection to meet regional needs and distribute economic immigration benefits across Canada High employer interest and influence in immigration to meet labour market needs, both permanent and temporary. Economic Action Plan 2012 announces the Government’s intention to “build a fast and flexible economic immigration system whose primary focus is on meeting Canada’s labour market needs”. Immigration modernization an opportunity to enhance employers’ role in attracting global talent and in integrating newcomers. 2 Context

Concrete solutions needed to address workforce challenges, and better alignment of policies, programs and processes with labour market demand Appetite for information, resources to link to immigrants – “one-stop shop” – but employers are diverse in needs and capacities Desire to capitalize on stakeholder networks such as IEC-B.C. for support and solutions, and to share promising practices Governments, employers, business groups and service providers are all facilitators – and employers have a leadership role to play, such as in improving immigrant employment. What we’ve heard from you…. 3

Federal Skilled Worker Program – favouring skilled workers able to integrate more rapidly and successfully into the Canadian labour market – Younger immigrants, better language skills, Canadian experience – Educational credential assessment from a designated organization – New Federal Skilled Trades Program Canadian Experience Class – incentives to retain talent such as reducing work experience requirement from 24 to 12 months for eligible temporary workers with in-demand skills. Improving selection to respond to labour market needs 4

Working with provinces/territories to renew focus of Provincial Nominee Program on economic immigration and to respond quickly to regional labour market needs Aligning Temporary Foreign Worker Program with labour market needs – Ensuring that employers look first to domestic labour force – Reducing paper burden and accelerating processes for eligible employers – Increasing worker protections – employer compliance reviews. Improving selection to respond to labour market needs 5

Amendments to the Immigrant and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) will enable CIC to: Reduce the Federal Skilled Worker backlog and focus resources on applications that meet today’s labour needs – by returning fees and close applications for certain federal skilled worker applicants who applied under previous criteria. Create targeted economic programs through Ministerial Instructions (outside regulatory scheme) on a timely basis to address new or emerging economic needs. Improving speed, flexibility and efficiency 6

Canada is developing an Expression of Interest (EOI) approach to skilled immigrant application management – working with provinces, territories and employers EOI is an automated two-stage application process that pre- screens and ranks candidates: – Results in a pool of candidates interested in skilled immigration to Canada – Allows for active selection of the most qualified candidates whose experience best aligns with economic needs and immigration priorities – Makes it possible to avoid application backlogs and reduce processing times. EOI: major step in immigration system modernization 7

Immigration Opportunity for enhanced role in selecting immigrants CIC will be looking to hear employers’ interests and perspectives on the design and application of an EOI system to Canada. Integration BC employers have long had an active role in labour market integration, e.g. – Hiring immigrants already in Canada – Providing opportunities through work experience, mentorship, networking opportunities – promising practices. CIC is interested in hearing about ways we can collaborate to facilitate the integration of newcomers. Role of employers 8

As employers, you can help ensure Canada is a first-choice destination for immigrants. Modernization is an opportunity for an enhanced role for employers, to facilitate better match between immigrant supply and labour market demand. What are the roles that employers are ready to play? Who else should CIC be talking to, and where? Conclusion/Discussion 9