CANADIAN IMMIGRATION NEWS

The Canadian Government Successfully Launches New Federal Internship Program for Immigrants



The recent announcement of the new Federal Internship for Newcomers program is a very exciting opportunity, as its purpose is to provide work to newcomers within the Canadian labour market.

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The program looks to offer newcomers placements within the federal government relating to skills and experience in their respective fields, which will further assist with smooth integration into Canadian society.

Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister, Jason Kenney stated that "newcomers are key to building a stronger Canada." Assisting newcomers in gaining significant Canadian work experience is often one of the biggest hurdles; therefore Minister Kenney said that "the Federal Internship for Newcomers program helps immigrants use skills in the Canadian labour market as they begin their new lives in Canada."

Similar initiatives have been piloted by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRDSDC) and Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) over the past two years. Based on the success of the previous two initiatives other agencies and federal departments such as: Health Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada, the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency, Canada Economic Development for Quebec Regions, Natural Resources Canada, and the Canada Border Services Agency are looking to participate in diverse initiatives. The interest of these various organizations has nearly quadrupled the opportunities for newcomers. Numbers show that in the past year, CIC and HRSDC extended opportunities to 29 interns; this number has since made a large jump to well over 60 interns participating in programs this fall.

Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, Diane Finley stated that "our government is committed to helping newcomers succeed, and this program is an example of how we are taking action so that newcomers can maximize their talents and contribute to Canada's long-term economic success."

The Standing Committee on Citizenship and Immigration made suggestions for expanding new internship positions in fields such as finance, translation, communication and science. This would be in addition to the existing policy, program and administrative positions.

Currently, World University Services Canada, Local Agencies Serving Immigrants, Hire Immigrants Ottawa, and Service Intégration Travail Outaouais are partnering with participating agencies, departments and CIC to move forward in making internship selections. The future is looking bright for the new program as it grows in popularity as will the number of intern opportunities.

If you are interested in Immigration to Canada, contact Migration Expert for information and advice on which visa is best suited to you. You can also try our visa eligibility assessment to see if you are eligible to apply for a visa to Canada.