Canada announces new funding to strengthen support for approved immigrants overseas

To complement and strengthen its existing Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP) – pilot overseas orientation services – to future immigrants in China, India and the Philippines, Canadian government has announced an additional investment of $3.8 million through to 2010.

These pilot orientation services are designed to prepare future immigrants from top three immigrants’ source countries for the Canadian labor market and improve their transition to the Canadian work force before they enter into the Canada. This overseas orientation includes labor market information sessions, individual counseling and planning, and referrals to a wide range of services available in Canada to assist future immigrants integrate into the Canadian labor market.

During these orientation sessions, potential immigrants participate in a daylong workshop at the CIIP overseas office where they are grouped either by profession or by destination. The participants then meet with counselors to develop a Canadian settlement strategy and then receive 90 minutes of one-on-one counseling with Canadian representatives. This orientation helps participants to develop a more realistic understanding about Canadian labor market integration and illustrates the steps they should take to better prepare themselves for life and work in Canada.

CIIP is funded on a pilot basis by Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program in partnership with Citizenship and Immigration Canada and delivered by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges. This project was first launched in January 2007 with an initial investment of $4.5 million over three years in Guangzhou, New Delhi and Manila. Last fall, the Canadian government has expanded the CIIP overseas orientation services by adding services on a rotational basis in the states of Gujarat and Punjab. In China, rotational services have been added in Beijing and Shanghai. Since January 2007, CIIP has been offering orientation sessions and helped over 2,300 immigrants learn about Canadian labor market trends, skills in demands in different areas, career bridging programs, and licensing procedures.

With over 2,300 approved immigrants to Canada accessing the services offered by the project since January 2007, the Canadian Immigration Integration Project has been hailed as innovative and a key contribution to the success and workforce integration of new Canadians upon their arrival. The Government's commitment to deepening these types of forward-looking services and directing future steps based on the success of the project are indicative of the fundamental need to fully integrate new Canadians into Canadian society.

In countries except China, India and the Philippines, potential immigrants to Canada can benefit from practical advice and useful resources available on the website of Canadian Immigration Integration Project where they can create their own Canadian Settlement Plan in preparation for a successful settlement and employment in Canada before they immigrate.

In Canada and abroad, newcomers can also look to the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO), which helps internationally trained individuals find the information they need to get their credentials assessed and recognized more quickly. Established in May 2007, the FCRO provides information, pathfinding and referral services to help internationally trained individuals use their skills in Canada. There are now 320 Service Canada Centers across Canada offering in-person services to newcomers.

Budget 2008 has also proposed additional changes to modernize the immigration system to ensure that families are reunited faster, and that skilled and qualified workers arrive sooner to meet the needs of Canada’s labor market.