Immigrants concerns needs resolution in Toronto

For immediate distribution – September 8, 2008 

NEWS RELEASE 

Immigrants struggling to succeed in Toronto 

Study shows city’s integration problems are known but not 

resolved 

Montreal 

Toronto’s labour market are in urgent need of evaluation, according to a new study from 

the Institute for Research on Public Policy. 

The study, “Breaking Down Barriers to Labour Market Integration of Newcomers in 

Toronto,” found that while general awareness of the barriers has increased greatly in the 

past few years, little is known about how effective and efficient government, community 

agency and educational programs are in helping immigrants overcome these barriers. 

“Canada is now competing globally for highly skilled immigrants who are unwilling to waste 

their human capital,” says the study’s author Nan Weiner. “If Canada is seen as a place 

where it is difficult to use one’s skills, not only will immigrants choose not to come to 

Canada, but newcomers already in the country will leave.” 

Many of the steps needed to improve labour market integration have already been 

identified, and now they have to be implemented, according to Weiner. The steps include 

creating partnerships between credential assessment organizations and governments, 

improving the Web sites available to newcomers, and getting more employers and 

professional associations involved in mentoring, internship and bridging programs. 

“Canada, and particularly Toronto, must commit to integrating newcomers into the labour 

force by the most effective and efficient means possible,” says Weiner. “And program 

evaluation is a critical element of that strategy.” 

“Breaking Down Barriers to Labour Market Integration of Newcomers in Toronto,” by Nan 

Weiner, can be downloaded free of charge from http://www.irpp.org. 

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– The programs and services available to help integrate newcomers intoMedia Contact: 

Office: (514)787-0737 Cell: (514) 235-8308 Email: kshingler@irpp.org 

Kate Shingler