Four years after its launch, new data shows that the government’s Canadian Immigration Integration Program (CIIP) appears to be accomplishing its goal to help newcomers succeed.
A new government report states that since the program’s inauguration, 62 percent of participants were able to find employment within six months, compared to the previous average of 44 percent employment.
“The objective of the CIIP is to effectively prepare immigrants for successful integration while still in their country of origin,” said the report. “We are not only improving economic outcomes for newcomers, but we are also ensuring that employers have access to this valuable and much needed labour resource.”
The program is administered by the federal Foreign Credentials Referral Office, and offers orientation sessions in the Philippines, China and India. The sessions usually last two days, and are combined with personal counselling. Participants are educated on Canadian customs, credential recognition processes and the country’s labour market.
The government report also praised other initiatives from the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, such as the one-year time limit on credential assessment. This has helped many foreign registered nurses, pharmacists and occupational therapists, among others, to become certified to work in Canada within a much shorter time frame. By the end of 2012, the one-year limit on assessments will be expanded to six more professions – including dentists, teachers and physicians.
Officials hope to expand the overseas orientation programs to other countries in the near future, with concrete plans to set up in Britain by the end of the year.
Source: Toronto Star