Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - April 2009
While speaking at a business luncheon last week, former Alberta premier Peter Lougheed stressed the importance of resettlement assistance programs for immigrants, such as the Immigrant Access Fund.
The IMF gives money, in the form of loans, to assist professionally trained immigrants in gaining Canadian credentials and work. Since its inception in Alberta in 2005, the IMF has given out over $1 million to 305 new arrivals to the province, with a 99 per cent repayment rate.
“The Immigrant Access Fund fills a really crucial need in our province,” said Lougheed, highlighting the importance of raising public awareness over these issues. “The story needs to be known in the broader community.”
Each year, Canada accepts thousands of new immigrants who, upon arrival, are often unable to find work in their trained profession because they cannot gain the accreditation required to work here. Doctors end up driving taxi cabs or working behind fast-food counters.
“IAF loans are helping people pay tuition and exam fees, purchase books, have qualifications assessed, and even help their living costs, if that is where the need is,” said IAF executive director Diane Fehr.
The Alberta government estimates that within the next 10 years, the province could experience a 100,000 worker deficit. Many experts and policy makers, including Fehr, see immigration as a viable solution – provided that Canada has the necessary infrastructure to help immigrants flourish.
“We must act now to ensure Canada takes full advantage of the people who have already entered our country as skilled workers, and that Canada remains a country of choice,” said Fehr.
Source: Edmonton Journal
