Canada is launching a new project in collaboration with the International Rescue Committee (IRC) and Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) to identify at least 200 skilled refugees from Tanzania and Mexico to Canada through the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP). The project aims to provide refugees with the opportunity to live safely and thrive in their new communities in Canada while directly contributing to the Canadian economy and its cultural diversity.
Collaboration with Key Organizations
IRC is working closely with several organizations, including the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB), and key governmental and private stakeholders, to implement the project. With UNHCR and TBB, IRC will identify and secure the documentation required for skilled refugees to settle in Canada and provide on-the-ground support to connect them with Canadian employers and job opportunities.
Benefits of the EMPP
The EMPP, launched by Ottawa in 2018, provides Canadian employers with the opportunity to access a talent pool of skilled refugees and other displaced people across the world. The expansion of the EMPP is a pivotal step towards ensuring all individuals are met with the support they need to rebuild their lives, according to Hans Van de Weerd, IRC Senior Vice President for Resettlement, Asylum, and Integration. The project exemplifies IRC’s commitment to a comprehensive and effective approach to resettlement.
Enriching the Canadian Workforce
TBB’s Canada Director, Lara Dyer, said that “the EMPP not only offers a life-changing opportunity for refugees to rebuild their lives but also enriches the Canadian workforce with a diverse set of sorely needed skills and perspectives.” TBB is proud of its role in advocating for the EMPP and for its collaborations with IRC and other partners to expand the program to serve more displaced people. This expansion is a clear demonstration of how refugee labor mobility is reshaping the global approach to resettlement and workforce shortages.
NGOs Supporting the EMPP
For the EMPP, IRCC works with non-government organizations, communities, provinces, and territories across Canada, and the UNHCR. The following NGOs help and support with hiring through EMPP:
- Talent Beyond Boundaries (TBB)
- RefugePoint
- TalentLift
- Jumpstart Refugee Talent
- HIAS
- FOCUS Humanitarian Assistance
- International Rescue Committee
- World University Service of Canada
Conclusion
The new project launched by Canada to welcome skilled refugees from Tanzania and Mexico through the EMPP is a significant step towards providing refugees with the opportunity to rebuild their lives and contribute to the Canadian economy and its cultural diversity. The collaboration with key organizations and NGOs supporting the EMPP is a clear demonstration of how refugee labor mobility is reshaping the global approach to resettlement and workforce shortages.
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