CGCC Calling All Canadian Federal Parties To Commit To Talent Development Strategies
A group is calling all Canadian federal parties to commit Talent Development Strategies. Eight of Canada’s largest urban Chambers of Commerce and Boards of Trade want all federal political parties running in the 2019 federal election to carry out better skills training for foreign skilled workers and promote successful immigration policies.
The Canadian Global Cities Council (CGCC) suggests that all campaigning political parties devote and concern themselves to more adequate talent development strategies. Some of the recommendations include encouraging more trades participation and inclusiveness, increasing local or Indigenous workforce participation, creating incentives for continued skill improvement and development, and expanding access to affordable childcare.
“Canada’s stiff labour market is under threat by a looming aging population, decreasing workforce participation rate, stagnating salaries, and growing skill gaps,” declared Michel Leblanc, president of the Chamber of Commerce of Metropolitan Montreal, in a media interview. “We need to improve on strategic investment in Canadians and clever immigration policies.”
In order to tackle labour force shortfalls and ensure that companies have access to talents, the CGCC declare that the government should centre on the facilitative administration of immigration. They also state that the Global Skills plan, which features faster application processing times and works permit exemptions, must be sustained and expanded. Additionally, the federal government should carry out sector-specific open work permits for Temporary skilled Foreign Workers.
The Council also suggests that steps be taken to hold back international students, enhance credential recognition and introduce a Trusted Employer Program to simplify application processes for businesses with a proven track record.
“Canada has established itself and made its mark on the international arena for the excellence of its educational networks, the flexibility of its immigration system, and its capacity for innovation,” Leblanc stated in the news release. “We need to take advantage of these assets to improve the training, attraction and retention of talents.”
The CGCC members represent fifty (50) per cent of Canada’s GDP and population. Their aim is to help influence and promote national policies and build competitiveness and sustainable urban economies. Participating cities include Toronto, Edmonton, Vancouver, Calgary, Winnipeg, Brampton, Montreal, and Halifax.
Their objective is to work with the Federal Government of Canada to ensure that, through policy and investment supportive of Canada’s major urban regional cities, we can realize a vibrant and healthy Canadian economy that has as its foundation a more competitive Canada, one that is a highly attractive place to start a business, invest and settle. And creating a more productive Canada will take time as well as focused policy direction and investments.
