Skills Connect Hailed as Success

Monday, March 24, 2008 10:08 AM

The Provincial government says the Skills Connect for Immigrants Program has exceeded its 2007/08 fiscal targets of helping 200 skilled immigrants in the health sector and 1,500 immigrants in total find work in B.C.

As of March 20, this year, 1,515 immigrants have enrolled in the Skills Connect program this fiscalyear ; 220 of those have already been registered in the health sector which has only been part of the program since October 2007.

Since Skills Connect services began in July 2006, over 2,300 skilled immigrants have benefited from the program.

The Skills Connect for Immigrants Program is a key component of WorkBC, the provincial action plan to address skills shortages. As an employment bridging program, Skills Connect provides skilled immigrants with services to help them navigate a complex labour market, gain experience in the Canadian workplace and enhance their existing skills as necessary.

The program connects skilled immigrants with employment in communities throughout B.C. in sectors where skills shortages exist or are projected - specifically, health, construction, transportation, energy, and tourism and hospitality.

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Posted on Monday, March 24, 2008 10:08 AM in News by 250 News

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Comments

Posted by: Dogwood on March 24 2008 1:37 PM

Hmmm, that's nice but what about our local unemployed? How many mills have shut down and left family and friends unemployeed and we are training immigrants? Bizzare.

Posted by: seamutt on March 24 2008 3:04 PM

Most of the immigrants are probably in lotus land and that is where the votes are, so they get the programmes. Isen't it interesting that one can come into this country with no job. I have said it before, time to kiss 604 goodbye.

Posted by: thereasonableman on March 24 2008 6:24 PM

What would you prefer, they go on welfare ?

There are many unfilled "skilled labor"
jobs around, maybe your friends and family should think about getting some skills, instead of waiting for the mills to reopen so they can get paid to push a button.

There are rumblings of importing tradespeople from places such as Mexico, The Phillipines and India.

Posted by: Dogwood on March 25 2008 8:26 AM

I was suggesting that perhaps there could be training program for displaced forestry workers instead of training immigrants.

Posted by: singlemom on March 25 2008 1:47 PM

Not as easy as you make it sound for the unemployed mill workers to acquire skills. I agree Dogwood - why not focus on getting our current residents with families to support re-trained and out there working!?

Posted by: metalman on March 25 2008 5:12 PM

Propaganda. Chest pounding hypocrites.
They have a huge pot of money for this worthy cause, but it hard to access-for some. For example there are fully qualified doctors who would like to live in B.C. and practice, but can't. Their qualifications are not valid here, even though many countries around the world recognize their training. The funds that are purported to be in place for the purpose of attracting and retaining skilled immigrants are not directly accessible for professionals such as doctors. Why? we need more doctors and nurses, everyone agrees. I for one have been involved with efforts to attract skilled immigrants for the construction trades, albeit in a minor role, nonetheless I have never even heard of this 'Skills Connect' program. I phoned around this afternoon, and learned that
that is the name of the government program that deals out the cash to various contractors who operate the programs. In this area the program is called 'Empower' apparently administered by the immigrant and multicultural society. There have been only about a half dozen people placed in Prince George, I am told.
metalman.

Posted by: Harbinger on March 25 2008 6:52 PM

The governments bring in migrant workers from Mexico and the Caribbean to pick Okanagan fruit. Them migrant workers sure must roll their eyes when it comes to learning about our homeless folk. Besides working is a privilege. Not a right. "As long as there is a comfy bridge I can sleep under and get fed free and regular and get clean socks free once in a while, why should I work?" Go figure.