News Release — Study to assess trade qualifications underway
Project will help clear the way for skilled British and Irish tradespeople to work in Canada
London, March 14, 2014 — A new international study that will help British and Irish trained tradespeople assess their skills against Canadian criteria is being supported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney was on hand in London, England, to witness the signing of an agreement between the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the United Kingdom’s National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC).
CIC is providing support to the ACCC to conduct the study and UK NARIC will act as a sub-contractor. The project is a component of the CIC-funded Canadian Immigrant Integration Program, which provides newcomers with labour market information and to help them gain employment that reflects their skills, credentials and experience.
The study will identify how British and Irish trade qualifications match up against Canadian requirements across nine skill areas that are in high demand across Canada: Heavy Duty Equipment Technician, Construction Electrician, Welder, Carpenter, Steamfitter/Pipefitter, Plumber, Machinist, Industrial Mechanic (Millwright) and Powerline Technician.
More specifically, UK NARIC will develop an electronic guide, in consultation with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities, to help assess the alignment of British and Irish trade qualifications with Canadian training and certification requirements. This will assist Federal Skilled Trades Program applicants to better understand the requirements and expectations for tradespeople in the Canadian labour market.
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada is building an immigration system that is focused on economic growth.
- The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is designed to address serious labour shortages.
- CIC is accepting a maximum of 3,000 applications each year in the FSTP.
Quote
“Our Government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. This project will help employers find the skilled employees they need to expand their businesses, succeed and help newcomers get a job at their skill level faster.”
Follow us on Twitter (new window to unfollow or login):
News Release — Providing greater opportunities for Irish and Canadian youth
Today, Canada and Ireland signed an amendment that will expand on the existing agreement on youth mobility beyond the ever-popular Working Holiday category. Two new categories have been added to better meet the needs of participants and prospective employers and the total number of spots available is rising to 10,700 for 2014, a significant increase from the 6,350 spaces available in 2013.
Ottawa, March 6, 2014 — Young people from Canada and Ireland will have more opportunities to work and travel abroad, thanks to the signing of an amendment to the youth mobility agreement enjoyed between the two countries.
Known in Canada as International Experience Canada (IEC), the youth mobility program provides opportunities for Irish citizens between the ages of 18 and 35 to travel and work in Canada for up to 24 months. In exchange, young Canadians can travel and work in Ireland. Young participants benefit from these opportunities by gaining a better understanding of the other country’s culture and society through their work and life experiences abroad.
With today’s announcement, two employer-specific categories have been added as options for young people from both countries. Young people with a pre-arranged contract of employment in support of their career development now have the option of applying to the Young Professionals category. Full-time students who have arranged a work placement or internship as part of their academic curriculum will now be able to apply to the International Co-op category.
Quick facts
- Young Canadian and Irish citizens can participate in IEC once for up to 24 months, in either the Working Holiday or the Young Professional categories. Some young people may also be eligible for an additional one-time participation for up to 12 months under the International Co-op category.
- For 2014, the number of spots available is 10,700, including 2,500 for the Young Professional category, 500 for the International Co-op category and 7,700 for the Working Holiday category.
- For Irish nationals, the Young Professional and International Co-op categories will open for applications on March 11, 2014, and the first round for the Working Holiday category will open for applications on March 13, 2014.
Quotes
“Our government values the strong relationship between Ireland and Canada, which is based on our history, our people-to-people connections and our shared values. This expanded agreement will strengthen the ties between our two countries, provide young Irish and Canadians the opportunity to live abroad, and foster life-long relationships that may translate into expanded economic opportunity.”— Chris Alexander, Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister
“The new programme offers Irish and Canadian young people further exciting opportunities to experience living and working abroad, gain a better understanding of our respective countries and develop their careers.”— Ray Bassett, Ireland’s Ambassador to Canada
Associated links
- International Experience Canada for Citizens of Ireland
- Student Work Abroad Programme Ireland (for Canadian citizens)
Follow us on Twitter (new window to unfollow or login):
Comment:
"April 8, 2014
The Honourable Chris Alexander, P.C., M.P
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
Jean Edmonds Building, Tower South, 21 st Floor
365 Laurier Street West
Ottawa Ontario
K1A 1L1
Dear Minister:
Now that the people of Quebec have rejected a state approved pecking
order of “social values”, perhaps it’s time for Ottawa to reconsider its
descent into the dangerous world of implementing immigration programs on the
basis of pandering to tribal visions of superior, formally mandated “shared values”.
On March 14, 2014 your office issued the attached press release effectively
closing the door on Canadian employers struggling to retain their existing
Southern and Eastern European trades workers.
Concurrently, Ottawa handed over the management of Canada’s skilled
trades worker landed immigrant program to the Irish and English governments.
On March 6, 2014 your office issued the attached press release.
It is government’s strident new policy to give priority to the Irish and
English on the basis of Ottawa’s formal vision of tribal, superior “shared
values”.
The impact of the “shared value” message to Canadian employers is both
clear and dangerous:
- Employers cannot retain “economically
successfully established” Italian, Portuguese or Polish trades workers who
cannot pass the British accented IELTS exam.
- Officials in Sydney have been instructed to
ignore the rules which mandate the review of workers’ files who have already
proven their “successful economic establishment”, despite failing the
language exam
- Employers must rely on Irish and English
governments self selecting thousands of new immigrants with no
Canadian experience
- Employers must rely on 30,000 Irish, English
and French citizens self selecting themselves as Canadian immigrants
Ottawa, just like Québec City, cannot have it both ways.
Either public stewards believe that Canada is run by laws and
transparent administration or they govern under the delusion of an historically
mandated mission to dictate social terms on the basis of presumed tribal
superiority.
I am refiling the “substituted evaluation” applications of my Southern
and East European trades clients with the Sydney CIO.
I have assured my Canadian employer clients that there is no basis in
law or public morality for tribal, superior “shared values” getting in the way
of your officials opening up files on a case by case basis and reviewing
“substituted evaluation” for “successfully established” Italian, Portuguese and
Polish tradespersons.
Respectfully yours,
Richard Boraks
cc:
Teresa
Berezowska
President
Canadian
Polish Congress
Ken
Cancellera
President
National
Congress of Italian Canadians – Ontario Region
Jose M. Estaqio
Jose M. Estaqio
President
Executive
Board
Alliance of Portuguese Clubs and Associations of
Ontario
Cristina
Martins
President
Federation of
Portuguese Canadian Business and Professionals Inc."
Richard Boraks, April 8, 2014
No comments:
Post a Comment