SPEAKING POINTS

Irene Bader, Director General

Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Ontario Region

for

LINC Administrators’ Conference
Wednesday March 7, 2007

Eaton Centre Marriott

  • Greetings LINC Administrators, executive directors and coordinators. Bienvenue à tous.
  • It’s impressive to see the dedicated professionals behind the LINC program in Ontarioall together, for the first time. C’est impressionnant de voir les professionnels engagés du programme CLIC en Ontario réunis pour la première fois.
  • As administrators of the LINC program, you play a significant role in the integration of newcomers to Ontario. Administration is an often overlooked, but essential role.
  • This year we are celebrating the 15th anniversary of the LINC program. I understand some of you have been around since LINC began 15 years ago, and some have been involved in administering language instruction to newcomers with LINC’s predecessor, the Settlement Language Program. Thank you for hanging in through the lean years.
  • I’d like to step back and take a look at where LINC fits into the bigger picture of immigration and settlement within Canada.
  • Immigration is a building block of Canada, and it has been a defining characteristic of our country. Immigration continues today to be critical to building our economy and society.
  • Immigration has always played a central role in Canada's history.
  • We have had various legislation through the years, including the 1976 Immigration Act, and most recently, the new Immigration and Refugee Protection Act (IRPA) in 2002.
  • Over the years, we have seen various immigration movements, including the war brides, the Vietnamese Boat People, and the Kosovars.
  • Canada has most recently begun efforts to assist in the resettlement of Karen refugees from Myanmar (formerly Burma) who have been displaced for decades in refugee camps along the Myanmar/Thailand border.
  • During the immigration movements and refugee resettlement efforts, immigrant serving agencies have helped newcomers integrate fully into the communities where they arrive.
  • The mission of Citizenship and Immigration Canada is to work with our partners in building a stronger Canada by:
  • Developing and implementing policies, programs and services that:
  • Facilitate the arrival of persons and their integration to Canada in a way that maximizes their contribution to the country while protecting the health, safety and security of Canadians;
  • Maintain Canada’s humanitarian tradition by protecting refugees and persons in need of protection; and
  • Enhance the values and promote the rights and responsibilities of Canadian citizenship.
  • Advancing global migration policies in a way that supports Canada’s immigration and humanitarian objectives.
  • Citizenship and Immigration Canada is responsible for administering two main pieces of legislation: the Citizenship Act and, in cooperation with Canada Border Services Agency, the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act.
  • As LINC administrators, you see first hand the diverse array of countries of origin for immigration to Canada and Ontario.
  • In terms of the history of immigration and source countries,prior to 1961, Europeans from nations such as the United Kingdom, Italy, Germany and the United States were the primary sources of immigrants to Canada.
  • Beginning in the 1980s and continuing to today, the majority of our newcomers arrive from Asia and the Pacific: China, India and Pakistan have been our top three source countries in recent years, with the Philippines replacing Pakistan in the number 3 spot in 2005.
  • There is also a significant amount of immigration to Canada from the USA, South America, and Europe.
  • These shifts have helped to create a rich diversity of population within Canada - “the world within our borders” - and have opened new possibilities to connect with the world.
  • Parliament sets annual immigration targets taking into account the domestic and global environment. The key to our program is striking the right mix of economic and non-economic immigrants.
  • Since the mid 1990s, immigration to Canada has been 60% economic and 40% non-economic. This mix allows us to address current and future labour market demands while maintaining our commitment to family reunification and protection of refugees.
  • The Immigration and Refugee Protection Act outlines how we select immigrants. There are three primary categories.
  • Economic: The focus has shifted from selecting people based on specific occupations to selecting people with transferable skills. Economic Immigrants are selected through the Skilled Worker, Entrepreneur, Investor, and Self Employed programs.
  • As well, Provincial Nominee Programs give provinces and territories the authority to identify and nominate immigrants to fill their specific regional and local needs.
  • Family: The family class has been expanded to reflect modern realities. It includes equitable treatment of common-law and same-sex couples and increased the age for dependent children from 19 to 22.
  • Refugees: Selection of refugees overseas now places more emphasis on the need to protect rather than settlement prospects.
  • Unfortunately, we are hearing more stories of immigrants having a hard time adjusting to life in Canada. It seems that the earning gap between newcomers and Canadian-born workers is increasing. Newcomers are earning on average 40% less than their Canadian-born counterparts.
  • Improving immigrant outcomes is a high priority and in order to reach this objective, we are working toward promoting a more concise description of what it takes to settle successfully in Canada and build a new life here.
  • The end goal of immigration is to have immigrants become good Canadian citizens who are able to realize their personal goals and contribute to their new communities. Le but ultime de l’immigration est que les immigrants deviennent de bons citoyens canadiens capables d’atteindre leurs objectifs personnels et de contribuer à leur nouvelle collectivité.
  • In 2005, 196,000 permanent residents became Canadian citizens. Also in 2005, 262,000 individuals received permanent residence in Canada. Currently, there is about an 85% rate of Canadian citizenship acquisition. In other words, 85% of permanent residents go on to become citizens.
  • Ontario receives more than half of the immigrants to Canada each year, and the vast majority of these settle in the Greater Toronto Area. In 2005, approximately 113,000 permanent residents landed in the GTA. Toronto’s residents come from more than 160 countries, represent 60 different cultures, and speak more than 100 different languages.
  • Although Toronto is the main draw for newcomers, it is important to note that 28,000 people who came to Ontarioin 2005 settled outside of the GTA. That’s more new immigrants than the entire province of Alberta receives annually.
  • We have seen some important new changes to our approach to immigration in Ontario. The governments of Canada and Ontario signed the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreementin November 2005. This is the first comprehensive immigration agreement between the governments of Canada and Ontario.
  • Through the agreement, the Government of Canada will invest an additional $920 million over the next five years in Ontario, specifically in the area of settlement, integration and language training.
  • Some of you have seen the flow of this new money in recent months. The upcoming fiscal year will see further investments and 2008-2009 will be the peak year that sets the new norm.
  • This will help ensure that our policies and programs respond to Ontario’s social, economic development and labour market priorities.
  • The two levels of government are also working together with municipalities and official language minority communities.
  • Unique among federal/provincial immigration agreements, the city of Toronto also has a seat at the table through the Toronto MOU.
  • We have consulted stakeholders at each stage of the process, and continue to do so as the agreement is implemented.
  • The Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement acknowledges the importance of immigration to Ontario’s future. Immigrants contribute to the province socially and economically. They bring skills and growth to Ontario’s labour market. They increase Ontario’s global competitiveness. They also energize and foster diverse communities.
  • One of the key goals of the Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement is to ensure that immigrants can contribute to their full potential. The increasing complexity of the labour market requires new and effective supports to help newcomers succeed.
  • Over the past 20 years, immigrants have fallen behind economically in comparison with Canadian-born residents. In multiple studies, this trend is attributed to several barriers:
  • Lack of proficiency in English or French, especially for knowledge work that requires advanced language skills
  • Employers’ reluctance to recognize international experience and credentials
  • Lack of social and professional networks
  • A complex array of services that present challenges for coordination, maintaining accurate information, and ensuring access at the right time and place.
  • With the Agreement, the goal is to expand the range of Settlement services, and includes plans to expand language training, a pilot Provincial Nominee Program, and the development of terms of a Temporary Foreign Worker agreement.
  • Under the agreement, Canada and Ontario agree to jointly develop and implement a four-year strategy for language training with input from stakeholders. The objectives of the plan will be to:
  • Implement a language assessment system for the full range of language abilities.
  • Provide referral to appropriate language training services following assessment.
  • Implement a comprehensive language training system covering basic to advanced levels.
  • Address needs for occupation-specific language training.
  • The most relevant aspect of the agreement for professionals like yourselves involved in language training is the fact that the agreement addresses the current gap in higher-level and occupation-specific language training.
  • It will help potentially thousands of newcomers get the language training they need to pursue higher education or work in their professions and trades.
  • The federal government in partnership with Ontario will determine the language assessment and training programs.
  • The specific strategic directions identified in the plan related to language training include:
  • Expanding and developing new programming at levels 7-12 of the Canadian Language Benchmarks/Niveaux de compétence linguistique canadiens, including developing curriculum guidelines for LINC 6-7.
  • Developing and implementing an ongoing system of occupation-specific language training supported by new partnerships.
  • Coordinating and implementing common standards for assessment and evaluation, including an exit-test system.
  • Expanding the role of language assessment centres to include assessment and referral to a range of programs.
  • Developing and enhancing French as a Second Language (FSL) tools and curriculum materials.
  • Establishing language in the workplace programs, and
  • Developing client-centered programming, including
  • expanding the number of Homestudy seats,
  • additional infant care and childminding,
  • enhancement of computer-assisted language learning,
  • and additional LINC literacy classes.
  • The Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement provides many opportunities for improving immigrant outcomes in Ontario. We will count on our stakeholders and partners to work together in providing the best outcomes. La présente entente fournit de nombreuses occasions d’améliorations des résultats des immigrants en Ontario. Nous comptons sur nos intervenants et nos partenaires pour travailler ensemble à fournir les meilleurs résultats.
  • Although we are striving for improvements, it’s worth recognizing that we already have a very successful language training program. The LINC program is a large, successful program.
  • In 2006, in Ontario, 34, 110 individuals were assessed for eligibility under the LINC Assessment program.
  • Also in 2006, 19,393 students completed a LINC level.
  • These are significant numbers.
  • To give some more perspective to the LINC program, I will share with you some more statistics
  • Providers: 124
  • Assessment Centres: 20
  • Sites:261
  • Instructors:1000
  • Classes: 1270
  • # of FT Seats: 8,262
  • # of PT Seats: 11,081
  • Sites with Childminding: 165 with approximately 600 childminders and more than 3,200 children
  • In Ontario, the LINC program has made significant achievements. The Automated Reservation System is one example. This system connects the LINC Assessment Centres with the providers and ensures that students are able to be matched to providers that have available seats.
  • Another example of the innovative LINC achievements in Ontario is the Homestudy program, which provides distance language training to individuals who would otherwise not be able to access LINC classes.
  • The LINC program is extremely successful, and I would like to acknowledge your role as administrators in this success. We couldn’t run the program without your dedication and commitment. Thank you. Le programme CLIC remporte un franc succès, et j’aimerais reconnaître le rôle que vous avez joué en tant qu’administrateurs et administratrices à cet effet. Nous ne pourrions pas offrir ce programme sans votre dévouement et votre engagement. Merci.
  • Your conference agenda looks very full and interesting. It presents an opportunity to recognize each others’ achievements, to share best practices, to develop professionally, and to continue to excel in the administration of LINC delivery.

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