Towards Maximizing Contributions of Immigrants in

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Towards Maximizing Contributions of Immigrants
in British Columbias Economic Development A
Community-Based Holistic Model of Immigrants
Economic Integration Presented by Lilian To,
Chief Executive Officer, S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
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Presentation Outline

• Immigration Highlights in B.C.
• Holistic Settlement and Integration Service Model
  at S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• Economic Integration and Social Integration
• Small Business/Self Employment a viable option
  for new immigrants
• Employment and Economic Integration
• Outreach Initiatives
• Recommendations

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• Immigration Highlights in B.C.

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Cultural Diversity Highlights 2001 Census

• Proportion of foreign-born highest in 70 years,
  over 40 in Lower Mainland
• Immigration in the 90s, 58 from Asia 11 in
  the Caribbean, and Central and South American 8
  in Africa 3 in the United States and 20 in
  Europe
• Highest proportion of visible minorities in B.C.,
  21.6
• Cities with largest visible minority populations
  Richmond 59 Vancouver 49 and Burnaby 48.6
• 38 multiple ethnic origins
• Municipalities with the highest percentage of new
  immigrants 1991-2001
• Richmond 29.8 Burnaby 24.3 Coquitlam 19.7
  Vancouver 19.7

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• Holistic Settlement and Integration Service Model

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S.U.C.C.E.S.S. sees the adjustment of immigrants
into a new community is a process, during which
immigrants need a continuum of services, in
varying degree according to their own backgrounds
and experiences.
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Settlement/Integration ContinuumSettlement ?
? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ? ?
Acclimatization Adaptation
IntegrationSettlement refers to
acclimatization and the early stages of
adaptation

• Finding accommodation
• Getting a job
• Learning about the new neighbourhood
• Learning a new language

Settlement is not a short term process that is
limited to the immigrants initial adjustment
period after arriving in a new country
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Multiple settlement issues
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S.U.C.C.E.S.S. ANNUAL REPORT 2003-2004
OVERVIEW

• (1) Mandate
• 1 Employment Service
• 2 S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Training Institute (Language
  and Vocational Training)
• 3 Social Services (Settlement, Counselling and
  Community)
• 4 Health Services
• (2) Scope 12 locations in Vancouver,
  Richmond, Tri-city, Burnaby, Surrey, Port Moody
• (including 7 multi-service
  centres, 6 Employment/training centre
• and one
  Business/Development Centre)
• (3) Clientele 501,562 client service in year
  2003-04
• 886,479 attendance
• (4) Staff over 350 staff (including Health
  Care)
• (5) Volunteers 9,100 volunteers participated in
  year 2003-04
• (6) Overall Budget 16.5 million in Year
  2003-04 (including budget for Health Care)

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Integrated Service and Holistic Approach
small business development
Seniors Women Program
Government, Businesses, Employers, Community
Organizations, Schools, Communities
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• Economic Integration and Social Integration

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Economic Integration and Social Integration

• a. Defining Integration
• gradual process by which new residents
  become active participants in the economic,
  social, civic, cultural and spiritual affairs of
  a new homeland. It is a dynamic process in which
  values are enriched through mutual acquaintance,
  accommodation and understanding. It is a process
  in which both the migrants and their compatriots
  find an opportunity to make their own distinctive
  contributions
• (cited in Kage, 1962165, from Best Settlement
  Practices 19986)
• www.success.bc.ca www.i-Boss.org
• SUCCESS Business Development Training

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Official Definition

• CICs integration strategy aims to enable
  newcomers to settle, adapt and integrate as
  quickly and comfortably as possible so that they
  may become contributing members of Canadian
  society. It is a two-way process that encourages
  adjustments on the part of both newcomers and the
  receiving society. Canada responds to the needs
  of newcomers through a variety of settlement
  programs, services and integration promotion
  activities throughout the integration process
• (Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2002 from
  www.cic.gc.ca/english/pub/dpr2002/cic02dpr06)

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Simple Version

• Ultimately, the goal of integration is to
  encourage newcomers to be fully engaged in the
  economic, social, political and cultural life of
  Canada
• (Dorais, 2002 quoted at the The Language of
  Immigrant Integration Presentation to
  S.U.C.C.E.S.S. by Prof. Peter Li, 2003)

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b. Economic Integration for this presentation is
defined as

• process during which immigrants and the host
  community (are assisted to) go through various
  stages including orientation, skill enhancement,
  social networking and participation and
  eventually become financially self-reliance and
  contributive members of the Canadian economy.

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c. Economic Integration as one of the four
dimensions of integration (Best Settlement
Practice 199810)

• the social sphere
• the economic sphere
• the cultural sphere
• the political sphere

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d. Economic Integration as the entry point for
full integration

• Priority of new immigrants
• the process of economic integration will also
  foster social, cultural and political integration
  economic independence is a top

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• Small Business/Self Employment a viable option
  for new immigrants

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2. Small Business/Self Employment a viable
option for new immigrants

• Economic Integration is very often confined to
  employment. Since 1990, Small Business/Self
  Employment become a viable option for new
  immigrants

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2. Small Business/Self Employment a viable
option for new immigrants (Cont.)

Total Business in BC in 2001 344,500
(100) Small Business (less than 50
employees) 150,300 (43.6) Self-Employed
Business 187,100 (54.3) Big Business
7,100 (2.1)
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1999 Private Sector Work Force in BC

• Self-Employment 22
• Small Business Employment 35
• Big Business Employment 42
• Total Private Sector Employment 100
• (Source Small Business Profile 2002)
• Western Economic Diversification Canada
• Ministry of Competition, Science and Enterprise

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3. Service Model
New Immigrants
Local Manufacturers / Business Associations
Business Info / Orientation Services

• Gateway to Asia
• Youth Entrepreneur Training
• Self Employment Training
• Export North
• Business Partnership (CME)
• Sustainable Employment Network
• Business Link / Loan for New Immigrants

Cross Cultural Business Orientation
- Training Courses - Seminars - Ind. Consultation
Govt. and Professional Services
One Stop Business Registration
Business Networking Events
Business Ventures
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Business Development Training
Economic Integration Service Model 2002
www.success.bc.ca www.i-Boss.org SUCCESS
Business Development Training
New Immigrants
Local Manufacturers / Business Associations
Business Info / Orientation Services
Cross Cultural Business Orientation
- Training Courses - Seminars - Ind. Consultation
Govt. and Professional Services
One Stop Business Registration
Business Networking Events
S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Business Development
Training Economic Integration Service Model 2002
Business Ventures
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One Stop Service for Business Immigrants

• Business Info/Orientation Services
• Referral and linkages with government and
  professional services
• One stop business registration
• Training courses/seminars on business management,
  finance, import, export etc.
• Individual presentation
• Business networking events
• Linkages with Canadian businesses and business
  associations (e.g. BC Chamber of Commerce,
  Vancouver Board of Trade, Canadian Manufacturers
  and Exporters Association etc.)

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Gateway to Asia

• Export market cannot be ignored in the era of
  globalization and the new world economy
• Strength of Asian Immigrants with Asian Links and
  Business experience
• Started 2 years 880 members/exporters. Sales
  reached 11 million last year
• Funded by WED

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Gateway to Asia

• Linkage/partnership with business in Vancouver
  Island and Northern B.C. (Prince George, Fort St.
  John etc.)
• 3 trade missions to China 2003-2004 inclusive of
  immigrants and Canadian businesses from Kitamats,
  Terrace, Prince George, Nicola Band, Nanaimo etc.
  Business contract signed

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Other Initiatives for Business Immigrants

• Youth Entrepreneur Training
• 3.5 months training
• Target youth at risk
• 80 success rate in employment or starting
  business
• Self Employment Training
• Target the unemployed
• 1 year training
• 80 success rate in employment or starting
  business
• HRSD funded

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Other Initiatives for Business Immigrants

• Business Links for New Immigrants
• partnership with WED and Coast Capital Savings
• Business loans for new immigrants with no credit
  history
• Business counseling, training and support
• WED funded

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Other Initiatives for Business Immigrants

• Canadian Business Partnership
• e.g. Canadian Manufacturers and Export
  Association (B.C. region) - with MOU signed
• Joint Training Sessions on Asian Pacific Trades
  for Immigrants and Canadian businesses
• Cooperation on Canadian Trade Fair - March 4-5,
  2005

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S.U.C.C.E.S.S

• Employment and Economic Integration
• Connecting Business and Skilled Professional
  Immigrants
• An Economic Employment Win-Win

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Key Labour Market Trends in British Columbia

• Longitudinal Study from Statistics Canada only 4
  out of 10 newcomers are working in their
  occupation fields.
• Statistics Canada 58 working age immigrants had
  post-secondary degrees at landing compared to 43
  of Canadian population.
• Immigrants with university degrees earn 40 less
  than Canadian born.
• Lack of credential recognition, Prior Learning
  Assessment, ,local experience, language
  proficiency and bridging training opportunities
  are key hurdles.
• Immigration will account for 100 of net growth
  in the provinces labour force by 2011.

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Skills Shortages

• Sixty percent of new job openings in BC to 2011
  will be in trades, technical, skilled and
  professional occupations, and most of these jobs
  will require some type of formal training and
  certification.

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Immigrants will be a key to labour force growth

• Source BCSTATS, 2002.

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Skills Wastage

• The Conference Board of Canada estimates that
  540,000 Canadians would earn an additional 4.1
  billion to 5.9 billion annually if their
  learning, experience and credentials could be
  rewarded and recognized in the workplace. It
  maintains that the single largest reason for
  unrecognized learning is unrecognized foreign
  credentials.
• Jeffrey Reitz of the University of Toronto
  estimates that the under-utilization of
  immigrants skills and education represents 15
  billion a year of foregone earnings to
  immigrants.

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Strategies to Enhance New Immigrants
Contribution to the Economy

• More resources should be devoted to English
  language instruction with focus on vocational and
  work place language enhancement.
• Improvements in and greater reliance on Prior
  Learning Assessment (PLA).
• New initiatives to facilitate the assessment and
  recognition of foreign credentials.
• Programs to fast track certification of
  immigrants qualifications in occupations subject
  to public regulation and standards. For example
  Health care occupations, Trades, Engineering, IT,
  Accounting

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Strategies for Breaking Down Barriers

• Address systemic barriers at three levels
• Systematic change to accreditation, licensing and
  prior learning assessment.
• Employers active participation to encourage
  access. Including community acceptance.
• Investment in immigrants.
• a) Integrated bridging program
• b) Access to labour market language
  training and employability training.
• c) Access to work experience.

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The Importance of employers active
participation ..The business community needs
to become more engaged with immigration policy
and in providing opportunities for immigrants to
fully contribute to the BC economy..
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• S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
• and its Approaches in Connecting Employers

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         In July 2002, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. released a
comprehensive report on Enhancing the
Participation of Immigrants in the BC Economy and
Labour Market, including a Chinese Canadian
Workforce Strategy. (CCWS)
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A major gap identified in immigrant
employment strategies in BC is a lack of
meaningful engagement and partnerships with
employer groups Therefore, a major part of
S.U.C.C.E.S.S.s strategic direction is .. to
work with business groups to connect skilled and
professional immigrants directly to the skills
and talents needed by employers throughout the
province         
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CURRENT ACTIVITIES THAT CONNECT IMMIGRANT
PROFESSIONALS TO EMPLOYERS
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Work with employers at local level

• 7 employment services centers directly working
  with local employers, Career Café etc.
• Partnership with Employers
• a. Career Recruitment Fair, Public Services
  Commission recruitment activity, etc.
• b. Customized Training for employers HSBC,
  travel agencies, etc.
• c. Cultural sensitivity training for employments
  GM etc.
• Job Mentoring Program Internship
• Partnership with Business Business Development
  and Training Centre, Gateways to Asia, Youth
  Entrepreneur Training Program , etc
• 5. The LAND (Language Acquisition and New
  Direction) Program for new immigrant youth
  connecting to employability and work experience.
• 6. Amundson Centre of Excellence for Employment
  Counselor Training.

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Work with Community Partners in Policy, Advocacy
and Support to Employers

• Partners such as
• The BC Chamber of Commerce
• WCG International of Victoria
• The Vancouver Regional Construction Association
• Human Capital Strategies
• The Canadian Manufacturers, BC Division,
• Etc

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S.U.C.C.E.S.S./BC CHAMBER OF COMMERCE         
forum on Connecting Businesses and Skilled
Professional Immigrants An Economic Employment
Win-Win. over 200 immigrants, business
representatives, educators, government officials
and community service providers participated.
Sector category include Internet Technology,
computer Networking, Engineering, Medical
Health, Business administration, Sales
Marketing, Legal, Accounting Finance,
Etc.                  
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The suggestions and ideas from forum
participants for employers

• Address needs of small business related
  to skilled immigrants and skill shortage.
• ? Support for small business recruitment,
  employment, and retention of skilled immigrants
• ? Development of small business resources and
  tools
• ? Development of a strategy for co-operation and
  the formation of cross-sector partnerships? ?
  Recommend subsequent industry-specific forums

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Suggestions from forum participants for
immigrants

• Qualification recognition and Prior learning
  assessment
• Pre-Landing Services
• Advanced English training for trades and
  professions.
• Employability/work place communication
  training.
• Bridging and skills upgrading,
• Apprenticeship and internships opportunities
• Mentorship and work experience opportunities.

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Business-Immigrant Employment Tool Kit Employer
Resources Internet Access

• Immigration and Employment Tools and Resources,
  e.g. BC International Qualification Program, etc.
• 2. Employment Equity Tools and Resources. e.g.
  HRDC Employment Equity Site, etc.
• 3. International Credentials and Prior Learning
  Assessment Tools and Resources, e.g. Prior
  Learning Assessment in BC PLA online, etc.
• 4. Online Recruitment and Job Search Tools and
  Resources, e.g. HRDC Electronic Labour Exchange,
  etc.
• 5. Research Reports and Papers, e.g. The
  University of Toronto Ethnic Studies Research
  Site, etc.

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Linking Employers from Business Network
Objective To facilitate employers to hire
professional and skilled immigrants Partners
BC Chamber of Commerce Tourism BC Employer
groups from industry sectors (BC Construction,
home builders, movers, oil gas, forestry
etc. ) Financial Institutions, Technology
Companies and others Pilot Project 1. Employer
Resources 2. Human Resources Support 3.
Cultural Sensitivity / Awareness, Supervisory
Training 4. Employer Data Base
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Industry Sector Partners, Current and
Planned   Small Business BC Chamber of
Commerce and its affiliated chambers Residential
Construction Canadian Home Builders Association
of BC Manufacturing Canadian Manufacturers
Exporters, BC Division Non-Residential
Construction Vancouver Regional Construction
Association Tourism Tourism BC and Hospitality
Industry Education Advisory Committee Aerospace
Aerospace Industries Association of BC Technology
Biotechnology Alliance, New Media BC, BC
Technology Industries Association, Association of
Professional Engineers, and Applied Science
Technologists and Technicians of BC
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• Addressing Barriers to Trades

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Barriers to Trades Careers

• Current and anticipated skill shortages in trades
  and immigrants low participation
• Barriers include
• Language
• Canadian work experience
• Awareness of trades careers
• Cultural barriers
• Credential recognition
• Access to settlement services
• Employment supports

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Immigrant Target Groups

• Immigrants with foreign trades and technical
  credentials.
• Unemployed or under-employed immigrants.
• Immigrant youth and children of immigrants.

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S.U.C.C.E.S.S. Trades Partnerships

• Kwantlen University College
• Roofing Contractors Association of BC
• BC Construction Association
• BC Chamber Critical Skills Task Force
• And more

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BRIDGING TO TRADES EMPLOYMENT CERTIFICATE
PROGRAM (B-TEC PROGRAM)
The B-TEC Program gives you 9 months of full-time
training The Preparatory Program (Trade
Language, Safety, WHMIS, First Aid, etc.) 4
months of training. The preparatory program has
been developed in conjunction with Kwantlen to
let people enter the trades. Upon completion,
students will have met all the requirements they
need to enter a Trade-Specific Program at
Kwantlen University College. Trade-Specific
Program (Practical Technical Skills
Knowledge) 5 months of training in the trade of
your choice. Upon completion, students will
receive a standard Kwantlen Certificate.
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Preparatory Programfor Roofing Apprenticeship

• Joint program offered by S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and
  RCABC
• 5 Months of Full Time Training
• Especially developed for immigrants, those
  wanting to enter the roofing industry, or
  wanting to change careers
• After completing the program, graduates can
  enter the 2nd year of the 3-year
  apprenticeship
• Work and earn your inter-provincial
  qualification at the same time

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S.U.C.C.E.S.S./BC Construction Association
Partnership

• To develop a comprehensive skilled
  immigrant/construction industry strategic plan to
  increase the employment of skilled immigrants
  among construction contractors.
• This plan will include an integrated assessment
  and bridging model that can be utilized in all
  geographical areas across BC, and which can
  eventually be tested in other industries.
• It is anticipated the strategic plan will lead to
  the development of an assessment tool the
  development of bridging programs for immigrants
  increasing skilled immigrants' access to the
  construction industry and the impact of the
  assessment tools and bridging programs on the
  construction industry.

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BC Chamber Critical SkillsTask Force

• To close the gap between the skill requirements
  of Small and Medium sized enterprises and the
  employment of people from groups
  under-represented in the workforce
• To develop and implement strategies and tools
  promoting recruitment, training and retention
• To make connections and develop on-going
  partnerships between
• The business community
• Representatives for under-employed groups
• Education Training providers
• To design and develop projects that address skill
  shortages

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Other Opportunities

• Joint proposal with BC Construction Association,
  Vancouver Regional Construction Association
• Discussions with Canadian Home Builders
  Association of BC, trades training in Framing
• Partnerships with K-12 stakeholders (e.g. LANDS
  program for immigrant youth in partnership with
  Richmond School Board)
• Submission to Federal Provincial Ministers -
  Honourable Hedy Fry

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Outreach InitiativesRegional Immigration
Initiative

• Pathway to Okanagan
• Capacity Building building partnership with
  local stake holders and employers
• Recruit, settle, train and retain new immigrants
  to move up the region
• Other support services with website, video and
  printed materials/information

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Outreach InitiativesRegional Immigration
Initiative

• Northern BC Initiative
• Business and export opportunities in North BC
• Oil Gas and resource industry skill shortage
• Partnership with Prince George Fort St. John
  Economic Commission, Mayors, City Councillors,
  Business Leaders, Northern Light College and
  others

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Outreach InitiativesRegional Immigration
Initiative

• Northern BC Initiative
• 49 immigrants visited Northern BC for business,
  export and employment opportunities
• 1st information session led by Northern BC
  leaders attracted over 300 immigrants at one time
  with major interests in business, export and
  employment settlement opportunities up North

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Outreach InitiativesRegional Immigration
Initiative

• Northern BC Initiative
• Follow up language and bridging training with
  Northern Light College
• Follow up integrated services and settlement
  linking up with local agencies
• S.U.C.C.E.S.S. and partners to set up
  coordinating council with representatives from
  the community government and Northern BC
  representatives in January 2005

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• Recommendations