Chow: Conservatives break promise to new Canadians

IIn the face of urgent need to integrate skilled and qualified new immigrants into Canada’s workforce, the Conservative Government has again postponed concrete action and instead announced a study as a stalling tactic.

In commenting on an announcement of a $3 million study by HRSD Minister Monte Solberg, NDP Deputy Immigration Critic Olivia Chow said, “More talk and more studies won’t help new Canadians find good jobs or contribute to our economy. New Canadians are tired of the empty promises and lack of action. This government promised to create an agency for the recognition of foreign credentials but has dragged its feet for over a year. Where is the fairness for working families?”

“What we need now is money to fund and expand these existing and proven programs and projects. We also need the immediate creation of a central body to speed the recognition of foreign trained professionals’ experience,” continued Chow.

Chow recently proposed a 7-point plan to create a foreign credential recognition agency. Chow notes that this major disappointment and setback from the Conservatives comes at a time when Statistics Canada reports that new Canadians are not earning any more than they did 10 years ago and the Conference Board of Canada reports that an estimated 500,000 Canadians are under-employed, causing a shortage of $5-billion per year in potential earnings of new Canadians.

According to a report released from Ryerson University and Catalyst Research of immigrants who have been here over 20 years, approximately 50% of visible minority respondents with foreign credentials felt their employers did not recognize their educational credentials as being “on par” with equivalent Canadian degrees, diplomas or certificates.

Releasing the $1.3 billion earmarked from the Canada-Ontario Labour Market Partnership Agreement would have provided greater fairness and opportunities for working immigrant families.

“Where is the money for training, settlement, and integration of new Canadians into Ontario’s workforce?” asks Chow. “We know it’s there, but instead of releasing it – and after dragging his feet for a year – the minister is not only failing visible minority immigrants, but failing the economy.”

Olivia Chow’s ‘Creating Fair Opportunities’ plan is available at www.oliviachow.ca.