Helping Newcomers Succeed

Ontario is helping newcomers through the Colleges Integrating Immigrants to Employment program (CIITE).

An $8-million investment in CIITE over the next two years will ensure the program can continue to provide the high quality education and career counselling that is helping internationally trained immigrants enhance their skills and build careers in Ontario.

The new investment will also enable CIITE to expand their Record of Education and Experience pilot project, which is currently being tested at four colleges - George Brown, Algonquin, Fanshawe and Sheridan.

The record is an online tool which stores the client's international education and work experience information, as well as their academic credential assessment.  CIITE plans to expand the system to colleges across the province and make it accessible to employers so they can use it to find qualified job candidates.

CIITE is operated by the Colleges of Ontario Network for Education and Training (CON*NECT).  CON*NECT was created in 1994 by the presidents and governors of Ontario community colleges.  It is a non-profit organization which works to establish partnerships between Ontario's colleges and business, industry and government.

SUPPORTING NEWCOMERS

Investing in CIITE is just one way Ontario is helping newcomers succeed in the workforce.  The government is also supporting newcomers through bridge training and language training programs.

Since 2003, the government has invested more than $145 million in almost 200 bridge training programs to help 35,000 newcomers get the training they need to get a job in their field.

The targeted, fast-track and flexible training provided by bridging projects gives skilled newcomers quicker access to high quality jobs.  These projects also offer work experience such as internships, clinical placements, job shadowing and mentorships, as well as employment services such as interview preparation, labour market information and job search skills.

The government also invests over $64 million a year to help more than 100,000 immigrants get the English and French language training they need to succeed in the workplace.