Highlights from
 NETWERCC'S
New Routes for Foreign Trained Immigrant Professionals (FTIP)
Annual Mini-Conference
 Inn at the Quay, New Westminster, BC
June 2004

KEYNOTE SPEAKERS
Honourable Hedy Fry
MP from Vancouver Centre

 

 

Below:
 Judy Sgro was first elected to the House of Commons in a by-election on November 15, 1999. She was appointed Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on December 12, 2003.

Photo of Judy Sgro

 Dr. Fry is Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration with a Special Emphasis on Foreign Credentials. She is also the Chair of the British Columbia Federal Liberal Caucus, and serves on committees pertaining to citizenship, health, justice and human rights, and social development.
Highlights of keynote speech:

FTIP - a Provincial jurisdiction.  National Credential Assessment information here. Specific BC-related information here.
Concern - Language proficiency.  Read about Canada's Enhanced Language Training initiative.  New funding of $15 million annually will be allocated to the enhanced language training initiative to reduce labour market barriers faced by skilled immigrants (Budget 2004).
Employers want "Canadian experience".  Demographics (Vancouver) of Immigration Characteristics here.
More work needed in four areas:
- cultural differences understood
- consider tax incentives for employers
- consider subsidies
- attitudes of public, and employers
Stats Canada predicts that by 2011, 100% of our net labour force will be dependent on Internationally Trained Professionals
Stats Canada predicts that by 2020, 100% of our population growth will come from immigration
Ten governmental departments need to be involved in order for initiatives to be successful.  Challenge to move from "silo" fashion of government dept. leadership
Dr. Fry's ACTION PLAN has been given to the Prime Minister.  Critical shortages indicate a need for $Millions to be invested in Language Proficiency.  Official Language Testing information here.  Language Training information here.
Priorities include SOCIAL COHESION.  Immigrants tend to isolate, forming ghettos.  Need internet portals that show where the jobs are other than major cities like Montreal, Toronto, and Vancouver.  Other stakeholders are Mayors and Training Institutions.   60% of immigrants have diplomas or degrees compared to 30% of Canadian-born
Immigrants moved to Vancouver for (1) the climate, (2) quality of life, (3) family, and (4) job.
Conference Board of Canada says other countries will be competing with Canada for FTIPs, but we have 30+ years of experience in multicultural efforts and knowledge.  Stats here.
Immigration Canada is responsible for first two years of immigrant's experience.  We need more funding for Health Reform.  We need to continue to invest in Human Capital.  Health and Education feed on one another.  
Colin Mercer
Ministry of Community, Aboriginal, and Women's Services (MCCAWS)

 

 

 

Roadmap to Recognition fact sheets

Colin Mercer, Manager, IQB, MCCAWS

 

Highlights of his keynote speech:
 By providing leadership and support to employer’s regulatory bodies, professional and trade associations, unions, post-secondary institutions, and community service agencies, the International Qualifications Program helps to fully utilize skilled immigrants in the BC labour market. This is accomplished through three core service activities.
Challenge: What is the role the career practitioner can play in the systems approach?  Career Practitioners address the issues of "supply" but IQP needs more help on the "demand" side.
Regional Immigration Initiative
Summary of Pilots and Initiatives
Roadmap to Recognition Fact Sheets for
- Nursing
- Engineering
- Accounting
- Teaching
Pre-landing and post-landing information is vital to success
Apprenticeships - New Industry Training Authority web-based resource will be available in August 2004
PLA tools will include "Provisional Membership" category.  Loan program through Van City for credential assessment (contact Van City, Branch 10, 898 West Pender re Immigrant Services).  .
Successes and failures are building blocks for future planning.
Other Resources:
- BC Business Council - presentations
- Looking Ahead Initiative - Labour Market  Integration here
- Immigrant Services Society here
-Language Upgrading

 
EMPLOYER'S EXPERIENCE PANEL  
Lee Down
HR Consulting Services,
"One Man Can"

Committed to individual and company success, Lee focuses on providing HR Solutions to the SME market.  His background includes many project-based activities in Information Technology from implementation and training, right back to requirements workshops in the corporate world. Additionally, a number of years saw him working in a variety of marketing, sales, and service- related occupations in the manufacturing and transportation sectors. Eventually, the career path led to working in the career and employment services field.  Taking the variety of experiences has focused the launch of One Man Can (OMC) into a company offering effective tools and services that enable a company to recruit, select, motivate, and retain top talent.  As the role with OMC keeps Lee busy, he chooses his commitments carefully and has been seen working with inner-city kids. Currently, he is investigating initiatives that will aid Newcomers to Canada.

 

Highlights of presentation
Migrated from Toronto.  Employers turned him down because he didn't have "BC experience".  Believes the explanation "need Canadian experience" is a copout.  
Married an immigrant.
Sees ITPs needing communication skills and better integration support.  Need to navigate business and social cultures.  Need help adjusting belief systems.
Small- to medium-sized businesses are hiring but offer lower salaries than corporations  Example, someone hired as "programmer" may also be required to fulfill "support staff" function. 
HR is profit-centered versus cost-centered.
Resumes:  Employers do NOT want to read more than two pages.  Lee Down has developed a resume template.  Write to Lee Down.  Applicants need to focus on core skills, their fit to the job, and soft skills (including involvement in the community).  
Needs:  Social supports for immigrants developing professional English skills.  Mental health issues overtaking physical disabilities due to stress experienced by ITPs.
Emma Hamer
of Hamer Associates - Career and Performance Management

Emma Hamer photo

Emma is principal and senior associate of the firm.  With almost 25 years of experience as a business manager, operational director, and career manager, Emma brings an eclectic range of talents to her chosen business. Creative, intuitive, people and results-oriented, she is a not-so-typical out-of-the-box thinker, who shakes things up, asks the hard questions, and inspires and motivates her clients to find your career direction and make it happen.  Emma is an acclaimed and internationally active speaker and presenter on career management and leadership challenges, and teaches Team Management and Leadership at the University of British Columbia (Continuing Studies). Emma is currently working on a book "Career Strategies for the New Economy".
Highlights of presentation
Slide Presentation - Networking Challenges for New Canadians
Recruitment lessons from the NHL.  
Believes the explanation "need Canadian experience is a crock".  
Needs that are evident with ITPs:  Aftercare: beyond getting the job and especially during the first three months of employment.  
Believes the term "foreign trained" should be replaced with "internationally trained"
Contact number: 604-317-2234 or info@hamer-associates.ca
PANEL:  Establishing Career Opportunities for the internationally-trained immigrant professional
Patrick Coady, BCITP BC Internationally Trained Professionals
Dr. Najat Al-Resai - AIMD BC Assn of International Medical Doctors of BC
Brian, SITE BC Society of Internationally Trained Engineers
K.C. Chau - SUCCESS Job Mentoring Program

 RESOURCES:

Photos:  http://www.netwercc.com/docs/FTIPJune2-2004Conference.html
 

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