Consultation Session on the Establishment of a Local Immigration Partnership Suncor Energy Fluvarium St. John’s, March 12, 2013

Purpose of the Session (1/2) To gain an understanding of what a LIP is, and what it does To explore the need for a Local Immigration Partnership (LIP) in the northeastern Avalon region of Newfoundland and Labrador To identify who could potentially take part in a LIP in the northeastern Avalon region

Purpose of the Session (2/2) To explore interest by potential stakeholders in establishing a LIP To discuss how a LIP might operate

Who is responsible for this session? Organizing Committee: ANC; OIM; CIC; FFTNL; Harris Centre Funder: Citizenship and Immigration Canada Facilitator: Memorial University’s Leslie Harris Centre of Regional Policy and Development

Agenda for the Session

Housekeeping Items

Before We Start… … let’s see who’s in the room and what we know or feel about immigration to the northeastern Avalon region. Series of quick questions Turning Point technology

What organization do you represent? 1.Federal Government 2.Provincial Government 3.Municipal Government 4.NGO/religious org. 5.Education/academia 6.Business 7.Other

What sector do you represent? 1.Newcomer settlement/ integration 2.Housing 3.Healthcare 4.Education 5.Employment 6.Transportation 7.Recreation 8.Other

Who do you consider needs help in settling in the northeastern Avalon? 1.Someone from another country 2.Someone from another country or another province 3.Anyone from outside the Avalon

The NL population growth strategy must include immigration A.Strongly Agree B.Agree C.Neutral D.Disagree E.Strongly Disagree

Immigrants strengthen NL society A.Strongly Agree B.Agree C.Neutral D.Disagree E.Strongly Disagree

Immigration to the province should… A.Be increased B.Stay about the same C.Be decreased

Communities are ready for an influx of new arrivals A.Strongly Agree B.Agree C.Neutral D.Disagree E.Strongly Disagree

Employment in NL (1/3) Expectation of 70,000 vacant positions between now and 2020 Attrition will account of almost 89% of vacancies: 57% to 2015 and 100% after Total employment will grow by 8.2% to 2015 (the peak of the construction phase), and decrease 5.1% thereafter 7,700 net new jobs in the province, a 2.8% increase from 2011 to 2020

Employment in NL (2/3) 66.7% of all job openings will be in management occupations or will require some form of post-secondary education Sales and service occupations and health occupations will account for 91.1% of all new job growth Mining and petroleum accounted for only 4.4% of jobs in 2011

Employment in NL (3/3) Immigration will play a significant role in helping meet job demands, particularly in highly skilled and hard-to-fill positions. Immigrants that move to Newfoundland and Labrador tend to work in more highly- skilled occupations such as those in social science, education, government service, and religion; and the natural and applied sciences.

Types of immigrants (1/3) Permanent Residents: Economic Class Business Immigrants Self-Employed Investors Entrepreneurs Skilled Workers Live-in Care Givers

Types of immigrants (2/3) Permanent Residents: Family Class Refugee Class Government-Assisted Refugees Privately-Sponsored Refugees Asylum Seekers

Types of immigrants (3/3) Temporary Residents: International Students Temporary Workers Visitors Provincial Nominees: Immigrant Entrepreneur Skilled Workers International Graduates Family Connections

Defining “immigration” (1/2) Recruitment  active seeking out of immigrants in the source countries Settlement  the initial reception of immigrants and assistance in accessing necessary services Retention  mid- to long-term activities which ensure that immigrants remain in the community past the settlement stage

Defining “immigration” (2/2) Who provides these services? Federal Government and agencies? Provincial Government and agencies? Municipal Government and agencies? Employers? Private sector? Non–governmental organizations? Leisure/recreation groups?

A LIP is needed to coordinate the various organizations... 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

The mandate of the LIP should be to…(Choose top 3) 1.Share information among organizations 2.Coordinate activities between organizations 3.Undertake joint activities 4.Identify gaps and opportunities, and offer innovative policy solutions 5.Speak with a unified voice to authorities 6.Advocate for policy decisions/resources 7.Other

The LIP should meet… 1.Monthly 2.Bi-monthly 3.Quarterly 4.Semi-annually 5.Annually 6.Only when an issue arises

The geographic scope of the LIP should be… 1.St. John’s and Mount Pearl 2.St. John’s CMA (Pouch Cove- Witless Bay-CBS) 3.St. John’s CMA + CBC + CBN + Southern Shore 4.Other

Roles within an organization Members: those who adhere to the aims and objectives of the organization, and who participate in its activities Chair: the person who presides meetings, sets the agenda and represents the organization to the outside Secretariat: the person or group that handles logistics of meetings and does the follow-up work between meetings

The Chair of the LIP should… 1.Be able to preside large meetings effectively 2.Be able to bridge differing viewpoints 3.Know how public policy decisions are made in NL 4.Be an expert on issues dealing with immigration and/or labour markets 5.Support the concept of “welcoming communities”

The Secretariat of the LIP should be housed… 1.Inside the Provincial Government 2.Within a municipal government 3.Within Memorial University 4.In an existing community-based agency 5.Other

If a LIP were created, my organization would be interested in participating 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

Evaluation of this session

I have gained valuable knowledge about LIPs 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

The presentations were informative and well delivered 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

The topic and discussion were useful for understanding LIPs 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

There was sufficient time provided for the discussion period 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

This session was valuable for communication and information sharing among people from different sectors 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

The environment was collaborative and non-partisan 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

I will initiate/participate in follow- up activities related to LIPs 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree

Overall, this session met my expectations 1.Strongly Agree 2.Agree 3.Neutral 4.Disagree 5.Strongly Disagree