Canada leads the way in refugee resettlement and integration
Last year, the country received, resettled and employed more than 20,000 refugees. Refugee adaptation programs are constantly being improved.
Immigration officials are working closely with Canadian employers and communities across the country. The plan is to take in about 2,000 skilled refugees to fill labour shortages in high-demand sectors: health care, trade and information technology.
Specially created partner organizations help qualified refugees abroad connect with employers who need to fill an acute labour shortage. Once candidates receive a job offer, they can apply to immigrate to Canada through existing economic programs. The Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot Program (EMPP) helps remove barriers that immigrants may face in relation to their relocation.
Trusted Canadian partners will undergo mandatory training and quality assurance. In addition, Canada is providing $6.2 million CAD to support 6 EMPP partner organization projects.
Resettlement gives refugees a chance to live safely and rebuild their lives, but that shouldn't mean that their career experiences are ignored. Several employers, such as Glen Haven Manor, have pioneered and championed this program from the beginning, and other employers across the country are following suit.
Sean Fraser, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship: "Refugees have skills and talents that are badly needed in the Canadian labour market. We are working to make it easier for qualified refugees to apply and faster for Canadian employers to hire them, which will ultimately increase the overall number of refugees coming to Canada.
Refugee immigration assistance programs include:
- the waiver of certain fees;
- simplifying the confirmation of their work experience;
- allowing them to use loans to finance transportation and other expenses that cannot be waived.
In most cases, Immigration Canada processes applications within 6 months.
