Canada’s Skills Missions: A Game-Changer for Global Talent Recruitment
Immigration Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) has made significant strides in implementing Skills Missions, a key initiative from the Strategic Immigration Review unveiled in October 2023.
An Access to Information Request (ATIP) obtained by CIC News reveals that IRCC is laying the groundwork for these missions, aiming to attract and retain global talent essential for Canada’s labour market and economy. Skills Missions, part of IRCC’s strategy, involve IRCC staff and stakeholders, including businesses and provincial officials, traveling abroad to identify and recruit skilled workers.
These missions will be overseen by the Chief International Talent Officer (CITO), a role that IRCC has yet to confirm filling. Despite this, the department has made “significant progress” in creating a work plan, mapping existing services, and engaging in preliminary discussions with stakeholders.
Feedback from employers highlighted the complexity of hiring newcomers, which can deter them from recruiting international talent. Skills Missions aim to simplify this process, connecting relevant parties to address specific foreign talent needs. Some provinces, like Manitoba, already implement similar initiatives through their Provincial Nominee Program (PNP), targeting skilled workers to meet immediate employer needs.
Target Countries and Occupations
The ATIP indicates that Skills Missions will support increasing French-speaking immigrants outside Quebec and diversifying newcomer source countries. The countries targeted will depend on the occupations needed.
For regulated professions like healthcare and trades, IRCC will focus on countries with similar training and accreditation systems to expedite newcomers’ eligibility to work in Canada. For non-regulated professions, the focus will be on regions with large, concentrated labour pools.
These missions will also consider existing bilateral agreements on labour mobility and free-trade agreements, and they aim to bolster the Francophone population outside Quebec, aligning with the Official Languages Act. IRCC’s goal is to ensure 6% of newcomers in 2024 are French speakers.
Next Steps
After identifying target occupations and countries, IRCC will consult with provincial and territorial governments and industry experts to finalize trip logistics and the involvement of employers. The Chief International Talent Officer will plan these missions, ensuring alignment with Canada’s labour market needs and sectoral strategies.
Stay tuned as IRCC continues to innovate in attracting global talent to strengthen Canada’s workforce and economy.
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