TRIEC Policy Library

Key Trends and Changes in Immigration Policy

TRIEC, December 2008
A short summary of policy trends that may have significant impact on Canadian immigration, including Bill C-50, the Temporary Foreign Worker Program, the Canadian Experience Class and the Provincial Nominee Program. > Read more (pdf)

2009 Provincial Pre-budget Consultation Submission

TRIEC, November 2008
At the 2009 Provincial Pre-budget consultations TRIEC emphasized the need for continued investment in programs that effectively link skilled immigrants with employers, as part of a long-term economic strategy for Ontario.
> Read more (pdf)

TRIEC presentation to the TIEDI Exchange Forum

TRIEC, October 2008
The Toronto Immigrant Employment Data Initiative (TIEDI) is an innovative project based at York University that seeks to assist community organizations in accessing data and analysis on immigrant labour market integration. TIEDI aims to help organizations access the quantitative data they need in order to: identify priorities, develop programs and services, compose proposals and reports, and carry out advocacy and public education endeavours. TRIEC presented at the TIEDI Exchange Forum.
> View presentation (pdf)

Letter to the Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua, MP

TRIEC, August 2008
TRIEC's letter to the Honourable Maurizio Bevilacqua during the federal Liberal consultations in Toronto provides key recommendations on areas where the federal government should consider investing.
> Read more (pdf)

Five Ideas for the Government of Ontario

TRIEC, July 2008
This document identifies five ideas for the Ontario government to invest or enhance, to achieve better labour market integration of skilled immigrants.
> Read more (pdf)

Making the Connections: Ottawa's Role in Immigrant Employment

Naomi Alboim and Elizabeth McIsaac
Institute for Research in Public Policy, 2007
Despite the high level of education of newcomers, their economic outcomes have not fared well. In this paper, Alboim and McIsaac focus on the role of the federal government in finding solutions to skilled immigrant employment in Canada. The paper first provides a brief snapshot of the current experience of skilled immigrants in the labour market. It then examines the current federal policy landscape for both immigration and labour market issues and reviews programs and practices that provide examples of successes. Finally, based on the existing context, relationships and promising practices, Alboim and McIsaac make recommendation on ways in which the federal government can play a strategic role in resolving this issue.
> Read more (pdf)

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To Employment: Services for Skilled Immigrants in the Toronto Region

TRIEC, September 2006
Created by TRIEC's Intergovernmental Relations Committee, this document maps out the government funded programs and services that support labour market integration of skilled immigrants. The document follows the experience cycle of a skilled immigrant in their process toward labour market integration. Each section provides a rationale for programs and services, and while not encompassing all services delivered in all areas and programs, outlines a range of existing provisions of these in the Toronto Region (City of Toronto, and Regions of Peel, Halton, York and Durham). Each section concludes with an analysis that identifies any gaps and overlaps, followed by TRIEC's recommendations for policy responses, including what needs to be done, who the players are, and what the delivery model could look like.
> Read more (pdf)

Practical And Doable Ideas That Will Make A Difference: Integrating Skilled Immigrants into Ontario's Labour Market

Ratna Omidvar
Maytree, February 2006
Ontario is blessed with a yearly infusion of skilled immigrants who choose the province as their preferred destination. Ontario has also recently signed agreements with the federal government on immigration and on labour market programs, both of which will infuse significant resources and energy into the province to improve newcomer settlement and labour market integration. In moving forward with new policy and program proposals in light of these new resources, it may be helpful to remember that Ontario has gone through a seismic shift in demographics.The look and feel of the province, especially in its urban context is significantly different from ten years ago. In a speech to the Ontario Liberal Party Annual Policy Development Conference Ratna Omidvar provides concrete policy recommendations that focus equally on the needs of the immigrant and the province of Ontario in improving access to employment for newcomers.
> Read more (pdf)

An Open Letter to the New Prime Minister of Canada

Alan Broadbent
Maytree, January 2006
Maytree 's open letter to the next Prime Minister of Canada focuses on the key elements for a immigration policy that will serve Canada. Immigration and urbanization have become the defining realities for the future of Canada. However, a policy framework for a new immigration policy must recognize that while immigration is a national matter, the processes of immigrant settlement are inherently local. Alan Broadbent, Maytree's chairman, outlines nine key recommendations for the federal government to support immigration and urban growth.
> Read more (pdf)

An Open Letter to Prime Minister Paul Martin

Dominic D'Alessandro
TRIEC, August 2004
Dominic D'Alessandro, Chair of the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC), and President and CEO of Manulife Financial, has written an op-ed outlining six recommendations for the government of Canada to break down the barriers faced by skilled immigrants.
> Read more (pdf)

Immigrants in Canadian Cities: Census 2001 - What Do the Data Tell Us

Elizabeth McIsaac
Policy Options, May 2003
In the 1990's immigrant's did not integrate into the Canadian labour market as effectively as previous groups of immigrants. Despite an average level of education that was higher than that of any previous cohorts and that of Canadians as a whole, their employment rate was lower and they earned less than the Canadian average. These indications of underemployment, the author argues, seem to be the result of shortcomings in the recognition of immigrants' qualifications and other systemic barriers to employment. Since more than 90% of immigrants live in urban centres, the solutions to this problem need to correspond to local conditions. Multilateral agreements between municipal, federal and provincial governments would ensure that solutions reflect local priorities and help foster vertical and horizontal collaboration and coordination between governments and governmental departments.
> Read more (pdf)

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Integrating Immigrant Skills into the Ontario Economy: A Ten Point Plan

Naomi Alboim
Maytree, October 2003
This document identifies ten concrete initiatives the new Ontario government should take to allow the province to benefit from the wealth of immigrant skills and experience. The plan, a joint publication of Maytree and Ideas that Matter, has been developed by Naomi Alboim, a strategic partner of Maytree and a highly regarded commentator on immigration policy.
> Read more (pdf)

Nation Building Through Cities: A New Deal for Immigrant Settlement in Canada

Elizabeth McIsaac
Caledon Institute of Social Policy, February 2003
This paper offers a critique of the federal government's proposed ‘dispersion' initiative, which would tie certain immigrants to a particular location for up to five years before being granted permanent resident status.
> Read more (pdf)

Fulfilling the Promise: Integrating Immigrant Skills into the Canadian Economy

Naomi Alboim
Maytree, April 2002
Fulfilling the Promise: Integrating Immigrant Skills into the Canadian Economy sets out the context, proposed approach and components of a system envisaged by Maytree in which Canada values and benefits from the skills, training, education and experience of skilled immigrants by expediting labour market entry in their field of expertise.
> Read more (pdf)

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