Unpack Magazine- Winter 2014/15 by Immigrant Women's Centre

FORMERLY THE

WOMEN’S

PRESS

UNPACK VOICES ON CULTURE AND JUSTICE IN HAMILTON | B Y T H E I M M I G R A N T WO M E N ’ S C E N T R E

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WORK, MEANS & MIGRATION

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uM AnG pA aZ IcNkE Editor-In-Chief: Ines Rios Managing Editors: Michelle Both & Laura Gamez Design & Layout: Michelle Both Copy Editor: Cassandra Roach, Elizabeth Webb Website: UnpackMag.ca Email: UnpackMag@IWCHamilton.ca Twitter: @UnpackMag Blueprint on cover by: www.flickr.com/photos/big-dave-diode

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Getting down to business T H E E M P LOY M E N T I S S U E By Ines Rios Infractions of worker’s rights, under-employment, and unemployment are all serious issues in our society. There is no question that change is needed. And change is coming, but how it will fully take shape in the lives of those affected remains unknown. The live-in caregivers taking care of our children, the farm workers harvesting our tomatoes, the restaurant staff preparing our meals: many of these are migrant workers, who have come to Canada to work, but left with limited rights and benefits. Doctors working as receptionists, nurses seeking certification, optomotrists selling frames at the mall. These are internationally trained professionals, invited to Canada because of their valuable education and experience, but left in an accreditation and employment gap. Recent policy changes surrounding work and immigration will change the face of employment in Canada. How we offer services of support to newcomers to Canada will also change for both the Immigrant Women’s Centre, and also other service providers across the country. In the mean time, our work is to close the skills gap between the unemployed and the jobs that need to be filled. We are seeking to engage and educate employers and workers. In this issue we highlight the reason why these voices need to be heard. Now, let’s get down to business.

Ines Rios is the Executive Director at the Immigrant Women’s Centre and samba squad hopeful.

A PASSION TO CREATE

How one women is joining Hamilton’s tech industry

Is McMaster University School of Labour Studies for you? School of Labour Studies Degree Programs

MICHELLE BOTH

By Tricia Bassoo Magdalena Wierzbicka still regards herself as one of the lucky ones. Originally from Poland, Wierzbicka, like many other immigrants, has faced challenges assimilating into Canadian life and pursuing a career in programming and technology. “I always wanted to understand how things work, understand the logic of things, whether it’s a machine, a being, or just a concept,” says Wierzbicka, who first arrived in Canada in 1997, nearly 20 years ago. “I was lucky enough to come here with a family, and have a family here as well. I had someone to ask questions, get advice or help. I had an opportunity to study English and go to college while being supported by my [family]. I think it was a big advantage and unfortunately, not every immigrant has this chance.” However, after college the transition was not necessarily easy for Wierzbicka, who struggled to find a place to grow professionally in Hamilton. In fact, studies have shown that new immigrants to Canada experience persistent feelings of sadness, loneliness, and despair. According to a recent article tracking the emotional cost of immigration on women`s health, authors Cathy Holtmann and Lucia

Tramonte, found that it is only after four years of living in Canada that these high levels of distress begin to significantly subside. For Wierzbicka, mentorship and support in the community was key to addressing some of these barriers. After moving to Hamilton, Wierzbicka came across Ladies Learning Code. The program offers women of any age or background lessons and mentorship in programming. This helped Wierzbicka feel empowered. Shortly after, she also joined the Information and Communications Technology (ICT) program offered at the YWCA in partnership with Mohawk College. There she received a Webmaster Certificate. ``I finally learned that I don’t need to prove I belong because no one other than me can decide,” says Wierzbicka. “[After all], I think that is what drives people to IT, whether women or men, is a passion to create.” “For me, programming combines what I like best: challenge, creativity, and freedom of choice. There is always something new to learn, something new to create, something new to discover.”

“I think that is what drives people to IT, whether women or men, is a passion to create.”

Tricia Bassoo is a McMaster Political Science alumnus and Hamiltonian. Follow her on Twitter: @HellaTrish.

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Photo by Joel Duff, courtesy of the Ontario Federation of Labour

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MICHELLE BOTH

Lara Tauli* came to Canada as a live-in caregiver from the Phillipines. She was left unemployed for six months after a misunderstanding with her employer.

CARING FOR CAREGIVERS The caregiver profession can be a daunting road, but those who

walk it are resilient, and play a

crucial role in Canadian society.

By Maria Gelenyse Canada’s Live-in Caregiver Program supplies much-needed caregivers to Canadian families and highly soughtafter opportunities to migrant workers. But the caregiver profession – largely populated by migrant women – is rife with challenges. “There’s a growing demand for nannies overseas. Women are willing to go abroad to make three times more than they could make at home,” says Ana Santos, fellow at the Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting. The Center is a non-profit that supports independent international journalism. Isabelle Dela Cruz*, a former nanny who came to Canada through the Live-in Caregiver program in 2008 says, “Canada sounds like milk and honey.” Still, the challenges faced by live-in caregivers are many and complex. The

private-home work environment, the complexities of immigration status, and racial discrimination present unique challenges for a large number of women who work as caregivers in this country. “Verbal abuse is something that is very, very common,” says Nada Tuta, a Family Settlement Counselor at the Immigrant Women’s Centre. According to Tuta, the majority of the caregivers she has worked with, “almost all had difficulty with hours.” “I think as a program it is good, because both sides can benefit. The problem is the respect of the contract.” Other challenges include communication and cultural misunderstandings, transportation for those not living in their employers’ homes, a lack of broader support systems for caregivers and accountability for private employers. While many professions have their challenges, a significant issue is the * Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

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Winter 2014/15 • 5

LIVE-IN CAREGIVER PROGRAM CHANGES

In Europe and Canada, Filipino women now make up 85% of all migrant live-in caregivers.* *Pulitzer Center on Crisis Reporting

fact that many live-in caregivers do not want to speak out of fear of losing their job – as this may affect their immigration status. Leaving one employer means finding a new one and going through the whole application process for a work permit again – which can mean a 3-6 month span of time when a caregiver is not legally allowed to work. Lara Tauli*, who came to the Hamilton area from the Phillipines through the Live-in Caregiver Program in 2010, went six months between contracts when she had to resign from her first position due to a misunderstanding with her employer. But, explains Dela Cruz, usually a family in need of a nanny and a nanny who needs work don’t have the luxury of being able to wait a few months for the processing of paperwork. Migrant caregivers often work cash jobs in the interim to get by, risking their status in Canada. Migrant caregivers also don’t want to jeopardize or prolong the process because they are striving to gain permanent resident status in order to be reunited with spouses and children left behind in their home countries. Dela Cruz has been working in Canada for 7 years, and is thrilled that her husband and two children – ages 3 and 13 – will finally be coming to join her in Canada this December.

“They really sacrifice terribly,” says Tuta. From leaving behind families, to losing their professional status to work in caregiver positions, the path they choose is not an easy one.

From leaving behind families, to losing their professional status to work in caregiver positions, the path they choose is not an easy one. Almost all caregivers are university graduates and professionals who give up their credentials to work and provide for their families. Dela Cruz has a Bachelor of Science in Computer Programming. She worked for Texas Instruments and also had a good job as a

Starting in December, Ottawa will replace the decadesold Live-In Caregivers Program with two new labour streams and restrict the number of foreign nannies it accepts. There is no longer a right for caregivers to access permanent resident status after 2 years of service. Instead, the government will allow only 2,750 caregivers to access from each of the new streams each year. To apply, you must show 1 year of post-secondary study. This could either be studies you did back home and accredited here, or studies you have done in Canada. You have to complete an English language test and pass with Level 5. However, if you’re a registered nurse or registered psychiatric nurse you have to pass at Level 7. If the caregivers do not get their PR status within the first four years, they will be sent home. Learn more at: www.caregiversactioncentre.org.

secretary in a mayor’s office before coming to Canada as a caregiver. Caregivers also face racial discrimination. Marianne Both, a Hamilton-based nanny with years of experience, was recently faced with such a situation when looking for work. “A family contacted me about working for them. They were very excited and praising my experience and references but once they asked me for my [ethnicity] they stopped all contact,” says Both, whose ethnic background is Haitian, although she grew up in Canada. “So I added a photo to my profile along with my resumé and references so I wouldn’t have to deal with that again.” The caregiver profession can be a daunting road, but those who walk it are resilient, and play a crucial role in Canadian society. They must be cared for too.

Maria Geleynse is a writer and ESL teacher living in Hamilton. She is planning to return to school in January to pursue further studies and a career in international social work. Follow her on Twitter: @MariaGeleynse.

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NOT FOR RENT How racism has created two-tiered housing in a Hamilton apartment building Visit UnpackMag.ca for more photos & resources. MICHELLE BOTH

By Michelle Both When Melissa Manahan was looking to move to a two-bedroom apartment in her building, her husband decided to inquire with the landlord about availability. There were none, he was told. She thought that seemed strange, and headed the next day to confirm. She was told there were three apartments she could choose from. Her husband is black, she is white. Manahan can’t confirm the motives for the misinformation, but she knows one thing, when it comes to her apartment building, she is treated differently because of her light skin. “I know for myself, if I ask them to fix something in the apartment, they will do it almost immediately... some of the families have so many issues with the apartments. Sometimes it’s a language barrier and they don’t know how to ask. Other times, it’s [the management] ignoring it or saying ‘Oh, we’ll get to it later.” For Say Thaw Paw and her family who came to Canada as refugees from Burma, later didn’t come until she sought help from community agencies and the City of Hamilton’s Property Standards department, who put pressure on the landlord. With severe mold problems along the outside wall of her family’s apartment, maintenance removed damaged portions around windows leaving holes, debris, and exposed walls. The apartment was left as a construction zone for over seven months, and mold continued to grow. The property manager sent Paw’s family a letter stating their apartment is kept at “extremely warm temperatures” causing moisture and damaging the property. Showering and cooking without opening the

windows are causing the damage, they claim. They have even threatened legal action against the family. There is no thermostat in the apartment. “I have lived in so many places in Canada, but I’ve never seen mold problems like this,” she said. “They say it’s because of us. They say ‘open the doors and windows,’ and we listened and followed them.” “This family has been neglected,” says Eileen White, who has organized a tenants association in the building. She is confident the mold problems began long before the family moved in, as she has seen similar problems with other tenants, who have also complained of mold problems.

“These families are being victimized by the lack of language skills.” “My feeling is those apartments were left in disrepair and rented out with no upgrades, and as the problems escalated, maintenance didn’t act on it.” When Micho Micho moved into her apartment, some things were already broken. The sink was leaking and the closet doors didn’t close properly. But she didn’t want to bother the landlord, for fear of causing trouble. “I was afraid if I told them they would give me a hard time and complain, saying it was my fault. I didn’t want to be blamed,” she said, translated. She was right. When a maintenance form was filled out listing all the needed repairs, her family was told they were responsible for some of the damage. This is no surprise to the Ontario Human Rights

Commission. “Newcomers are particularly at risk of discrimination precisely because they are new and viewed as being unlikely to know their rights,” an OHRC article on housing discrimination states. The OHRC has recorded stories of landlords discriminating against racialized immigrants, including charging more for rent than Canadians, and denying requests for repairs and maintenance. Brett Klassen, who lives in a neighbouring building run by the same management, has heard racist comments directly from the building staff. “When I was paying rent, the current management said they no longer want to rent to immigrants or people on Ontario Works [...] that they only want to rent to working class people, whatever that means.” He has also seen security guards be antagonistic to tenants, primarily those who are new to Canada. Paw and her family want out. “I applied to City Housing and have been on the waiting list for three years now,” Paw says. Other affordable buildings downtown, she’s heard from friends that they have simliar problems. “These families are being victimized by the lack of language skills,” says White, who has helped Paw report problems to the superintendent before. “This makes me angry and upset.” Paw is still deciding what to do. “If I have another problem, I’m scared to tell them [...] I just pray to God: God, listen to me so I can find my way to get out of here.”

Michelle Both works as the Communications Coordinator at the Immigrant Women’s Centre and is Managing Editor for Unpack Magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @MichellelBoth.

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Winter 2014/15 • 7

Alone

in a strange place Immigrant women forced to live lonely lives, raise children as spouses travel for work

By Shawn Smith

Anabelle and her daughter live in Hamilton, while her husband works overseas.

Living in a house on Hamilton Mountain by herself, Prita Sarojaya* sits alone most nights. While the snow begins to accumulate, she struggles like so many others to acclimatize herself to a new country. She isn’t sure how to work the heater and doesn’t know many of the things that go into readying for a Canadian winter. Preparing a home for the cold months ahead, as well as the general maintenance that goes along with home ownership, would be a little bit easier if she wasn’t on her own. Her husband Chelleb* doesn’t know any better about the issues of readying a Canadian home for winter, but having him around would make things easier. The couple are from India, and like many families who immigrate to Canada, have struggled to try and learn the culture and climate of a new country while looking for work. The search for employment has forced them to live in separate parts of the country. Chelleb is stationed as an engineer in Kapuskasing, a small Northern Ontario town of 8,196 where he works for a large manufacturer of forest products. It’s about 11 hours north of Hamilton. Every four to six weeks he makes the two hour and 30 minute drive to Timmins, where he leaves his vehicle and boards an airplane to visit his wife. Chelleb is 55. Prita is 42. This isn’t what they had in mind when they decided to immigrate to Canada in 2008. The separation of married immigrant couples in the search for viable, well-paying jobs is common in Canada. While Canadian-born couples often couldn’t fathom leaving their loved one, many families that come to Canada see it as just part of the process, part of what is necessary to living in Canada. While her husband is applying his craft in Northern Ontario, Prita is in Hamilton taking care of the home. She is working towards becoming a certified human resource professional (CHRP) and is in the waiting process of receiving her license. They chose Hamilton because U.S. Steel was hiring and Chelleb was able to find work. A series of layoffs forced him to Montreal, and eventually to Kapscaping. Anabelle Ragsag has found herself in a similar situation. In the Phillipines she was teaching political science while working on her PhD. Before coming to Canada in 2009, she

The search for employment has forced them to live in separate parts of the country.

also worked in Indonesia, Egypt, and Germany. Now, she has taken a job in monitoring and evaluations of programs, projects, and activities at the Immigrant Women’s Centre in Hamilton. She chose Hamilton because her husband, and father of their two year old daughter, was a professor at McMaster University. A lack of tenure positions forced him to take a teaching job overseas, leaving Anabelle and their young daughter in Hamilton, alone.

If they have skills and Canada has vacancies, why can’t we work together? There’s little to suggest that the trend of immigrant workers struggling to find work, no matter how skilled, will change anytime soon. A 2012 study by Citizenship and Immigration Canada suggested that there are 200 foreign-born taxi drivers with their doctorate and 1,345 with a master’s degree. Many of them have backgrounds in business, architecture, and engineering, yet they are forced to navigate the roads instead of the building them. There’s no good answer why Sarojaya has to live 11 hours from her husband, or why Ragsag can only see her husband for a short time during Christmas break and during the summer. If they have skills and Canada has vacancies, why can’t we work together?

Shawn Smith is a writer and reporter from the Hamilton area. Follow him on Twitter @shawn_w_smith. * Names have been changed for privacy reasons.

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Winter 2014/15 • 9

More Than Crafts THE INTERNATIONAL MARKETPLACE CELEBRATES 10 YEARS OF ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT FOR IMMIGRANT & REFUGEE WOMEN

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A customer looks at handmade jewelry from Uganda by Nuture a Child, available at the 2014 Marketplace on Dec 12 & 13.

By Laura Gamez In 2005, Marufa Shinwari along with three other immigrant women joined the Immigrant Women’s Centre first International Marketplace. For them, Shinwari notes, it was not only about finding a space to showcase their culture but, more importantly, a place to learn how to sell their artwork in a Canadian context. “It definitely was an experience of empowerment. They were selling things alongside other women, and interacting with not only Canadian clients but clients from all over the world,” says Shinwari, who still participates in the Marketplace ten years later. Nevertheless, although selfemployment as an artisan might be difficult, self employment amongst immigrant women is not particularly unique. According to a CIBC report, “one in five self-employed women were not born in Canada.” While one in four self-employed men were also not born in Canada. “Self-employment is an important source of labour market opportunities for immigrants. By the end of the 2000s, about 19% of immigrant workers were self-employed, compared with 15% of their Canadian-born counterparts,” stated a Statistics Canada Report. Self-employment is also then translated into many small, mid-size, and even large-scale businesses that are contributing to the economy.

According to an RBC Economics report, in 2011 alone “majority-owned women’s businesses contributed an estimated $148 billion to the Canadian economy.” However, the value of supporting immigrants in such endeavours cannot only be measured in the economic gains but also the valuable benefits to the community overall, argues professor Mark J. Stern of the University of Philadelphia. Although Stern’s research has largely focused on art and culture through the lens of immigration in the US, the main points still resonate with migrant communities everywhere. “When you think about immigrants finding their place in a new community, arts and culture is a critical element in negotiating that transition,” says Stern. Through his research, Stern has found that the arts and culture are the means to reduce the loneliness and isolation that many immigrants experience, while also helping immigrants integrate into the mainstream community. “For migrants seeking to recapture a lost past or forge a new hybrid present, the arts are serious business,” notes Stern’s paper, “Migrants, Communities and Culture” which was co-authored with Susan Seifert and Domenic Vitiello. Events and opportunities like the International Marketplace, therefore, forge two benefits for the Hamilton Community. One is by simply providing a space for women

“For migrants seeking to recapture a lost past or forge a new hybrid present, the arts are serious business.”

to become entrepreneurs, helping pave their way to continue to be a part of Canada’s economic growth. The second is the larger and long-term benefit of a sense of belonging for immigrants, while also nourishing Hamilton’s cultural scene with diverse and innovative art. This year’s International Marketplace will have immigrant and refugee women vendors selling not only arts and crafts, but also street food from around the world. It will take place December 12 and 13 at St. Josephs’ Parish on Herkimer Street at Locke. The event is free and open to the public.

Globetrotter Laura Gamez currently works at the Immigrant Women’s Centre and Women Abuse Working Group in Hamilton. She is a guest editor for this issue of Unpack. Follow her on Twitter: @lauramgamez.

Chris

Charlton

Member of Parliament for Hamilton Mountain www.chrischarlton.ca

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‘We need paid internships’ WHY A GROUP OF IMMIGRANT WOMEN ARE PETITIONING FOR A CAUSE By Daniela Gunn-Doerge Eight immigrant women and their rising number of supporters are petitioning the provincial government to increase funding for paid internships and better job opportunities for newcomer women. Immigrant women in particular, they say, are at a disadvantage when trying to find work in Canada. Like most immigrants, they experience challenges working in a new language, and cultural context, and finding paid relevant Canadian work experience that will qualify them for a job in their field of expertise. What sets them apart are the high costs and wait times for daycare, and the discrimination they face both as immigrants and as women. “Females of all ages who are born outside Canada are more likely to live in poverty than Canadian-born females: 23% of all foreign-born females lived in a low-income situation, compared with just 16% of their Canadian-born counterparts,” notes a 2011 study by the Women’s Economic Council, a non-profit organization that seeks to advance women’s economic security in Canada. The study noted that despite the fact that 67 per cent of all immigrant women are of working age, barriers such as lack of community supports, affordable childcare, credential recognition, adequate housing, and increasing discrimination for visible minorities makes immigrant women more vulnerable to unstable employment. The writers of the petition are all recent graduates of

“I think it’s essential that we petition the government; it is the way that democracy works.” Women of Action, a six-month program that promotes civic engagement and collective action amongst immigrant women. “I have been in Hamilton for two years looking for jobs as a licensed physician,” says Heba Ahmed, one of the petitioners who before arriving in Canada, worked as an oncologist. “I was trying all over to find even a part time job, but I couldn’t [...] So you either volunteer, or go get a low paying part time job, but women can’t afford to do either because there are too many expenses.”

MICHELLE BOTH

Recent graduates of the Immigrant Women’s Centre’s Women of Action program are gathering signatures to call on the government to create more paid internship opportunities for newcomer women.

The unemployment rate for immigrant women is also costing Hamilton. Based on a report by the Conference Board of Canada released last month, Hamilton received a D grade and has placed 42nd in the list of Canadian cities for its inability to draw immigrants to the city and help them integrate. Hamilton’s Social Planning and Research Council (SPRC) also noted in a study that in Hamilton recent immigrants have substantially higher rates of poverty among full-time workers, with almost one quarter of women working for full-time wages that don’t even reach the poverty-line. “I call it racism,” says Deirdre Pike, a Senior Social Planner for the SPRC. Pike explains immigrants are less likely to be on the receiving end of the few jobs that exist in Hamilton because of their accent or different cultural background she states, “It’s as basic and hateful and horrendous as that.” “I think it is essential that we petition the government;

it is the way that democracy works.” Although the petition might not be the solution to ending discrimination and poverty among the immigrant population in the city, “It will plant a seed. It’s only through that risk that things are going to change.” Once the petitioners gain the support of local residents they intend to bring it to the attention of the provincial representatives and then the Ontario government. “It shows that there are a lot of people behind this; the petition is about humans,” says Ahmed. She explained that it is supported by both men and women who realize the impact this change can have on many families in our community. Daniela Gunn-Doerge is a graduate of the University of Ottawa’s Conflict Studies & Human Rights Program. She was recently in Hamilton as part of the Canada World Youth exchange.

UNPACKMAG.CA

Winter 2014/15 • 11

MICHELLE BOTH

Migrant workers Johnna Uchi, Sentil Thevar, and Eloid Drummond shared their expreriences at the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change speaking tour on November 13 in Hamilton.

MIGRANT WORKERS CALL FOR CHANGE By Laura Gamez “Shut up, you have no rights here.” This is what Eloid Drummond heard over the course of seven years as a greenhouse employee at an Ontario Farm. He is one of the three temporary foreign workers who came to Hamilton as part of a migrant worker speaking tour. The tour, which is organized by the Migrant Workers Alliance for Change (MWAC), hopes to raise awareness about the harsh working conditions and abuses many temporary foreign workers face in Canada. Present at the speaking event, co-organized by Hamilton’s Sanctuary City Coalition, were also Johnna Uchi, a livein caregiver, and Sentil Thevar, a hospitality worker. “We were told to shut up, because if we spoke up we would have to go home,” says Drummond, who is originally from Jamaica. Drummond’s work as a greenhouse worker involved long-unpaid hours, heavy-lifting, and gruesome work conditions. However, being the only breadwinner for his family, Drummond had no choice but to continue working. One night, while riding his bicycle after work, a truck hit Drummond. The employers told Drummond to accept that it was “his fault,” despite his explanations that the truck had missed a stop sign. The accident left Drummond’s shoulder and back heavily injured. His doctor recommended rest, but his employer forced him to work. When Drummond could not perform, he was fired and his employer cancelled his

health insurance. “The reason I’m here speaking is that I would like to stand up for all foreign workers,” says Drummond. “I cannot do much for me anymore. My back is done, but I want to let people know they have rights. We have rights.” Unchi and Thevar’s stories of work also highlighted the lack of knowledge many workers have about their rights. Many are working unpaid hours, with wages below what they are promised, and without any benefits.

“We were told to shut up, because if we spoke up we would have to go home.” For Syed Hussan, Coordinator of MWAC, the tour is also an opportunity to break myths and misconceptions about Temporary Foreign Workers. Hussan noted that many stories about migrant workers have argued that the workers are taking jobs away from Canadians. “Temporary Foreign Workers have been in Canada since 1901. This is not an issue of simply jobs. It is a global trend,” says Hussan, who went on to explain that the answer lies not only in looking at addressing the current conditions of work for migrant workers but

looking overall at all systemic barriers migrant workers face, including immigration policy. Hussan highlighted that in April 2015, a new law will come into effect that will make it impossible for any temporary foreign worker to stay in Canada more than four years. This means that it will be harder for organizations like MWAC to provide workers with information about their rights and even harder for the workers to organize any action to address human rights violations. “We need people to mobilize around this and ask the government to stop this law from coming into effect,” says Hussan. For Caitlin Craven, an organizer with the Hamilton Sanctuary City Coalition, the event was an important step in raising awareness about social justice issues in Hamilton. “We are still working to see what it means for Hamilton to be a sanctuary city,” says Craven, “but we wanted to do more outreach and raise awareness about all oppressive systems that are affecting our community.” There are over 60,000 temporary foreign workers in Ontario.

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LANDING THE JOB Madhavi Manian brought six years of professional experience with her when she immigrated to Canada. Yet, securing employment came with challenges that surprised her.

MICHELLE BOTH

Maddy Manian stands in the GO station, where she commutes each day to Toronto for her job in Human Resources at the Royal Bank of Canada.

By Michelle Both Each year, Canada welcomes nearly a quarter of a million permanent residents, one of the highest rates among developed countries. Fifty-seven percent of these are internationally trained professionals who have hopes of continuing their professions as doctors, engineers, administrators, and skilled labourers on Canadian soil. However a quick ride in a Hamilton taxi can show you, their successful careers do not always follow them, despite their expertise. Gaps in knowledge of job search resources and a new workplace culture can complicate entering the labour market in Canada. “It is tough to know and understand the job market when you are here as a new immigrant,” says Madhavi Manian. After applying to over twenty jobs, Manian didn’t hear back from a single one, despite over six years of professional human resources experience abroad. Manian is not the only one. The Conference Board of Canada even noted that, “Underutilizing the skills of internationally-trained individuals is estimated to cost Canada between $3.4 to 5 billion per year in lost productivity.” However, this economic loss can be mitigated by institutions. “Our message is that Canada’s doors are open to economic immigration,” said Minister of Citizenship and immigration, Chris Alexander, during a conference

Each year, Canada welcomes nearly a quarter of a million permanent residents, one of the highest rates among developed countries.

earlier this year in British Columbia. “We must, all of us – the federal government, provincial governments, employers, educators, service providers, other stakeholders work together to ensure […] Canada remains competitive in the marketplace for skilled immigrants.” For the Immigrant Women’s Centre, ensuring newcomers have the tools they need for success is crucial to ensuring that Hamilton and Canada are attractive to skilled workers. One of the ways the Immigrant Women’s Centre has found success in this area is through programs like the Job Search Workshop, which offers pre-employment

training to newcomers in two four-day sessions. The workshop helps new immigrants understand the job search process from the very beginning through one-on-one job search coaching, interview tips and techniques, and customized action plans. For Manian this type of program was crucial. After completing the program, she secured a job after sending out only two more applications. In her first interview, she was prepared, confident, and had a grasp on Canadian business etiquette. “When I got my first job related to my field in Canada, I was very much excited and happy that my patience and efforts have paid off eventually. I was looking forward to be able to put my experience and skills to work and learn about the work culture and work environment in Canada,” she says. Manian is now working as a Workforce Effectiveness Coordinator at the Royal Bank of Canada. The workshop is available to permanent residents, convention refugees and live-in caregivers. Men and women are welcome. Care for newcomer children is available.

Michelle Both works as the Communications Coordinator at the Immigrant Women’s Centre and is Managing Editor for Unpack Magazine. Follow her on Twitter: @MichellelBoth.

YOUR GUIDE TO

INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS

57%

TOP 10 EMPLOYMENT SECTORS

of permanent residents welcomed to Canada each year are internationally trained professionals * Citizenship and Immigration Canada, 2013

2014

IN HAMILTON

TOP FIVETHODS IN HAMILTON RECRUITMEN T ME

TOP TEN PRIORITY JOBS FROM CITIZENSHIP AND IMMIGRATION CANADA

01. WORD OF MOUTH

02. ONLINE JOB LISTING Geoscientists  Carpenters 03. ORGANIZATION’S WEBSITE  Electricians 04. PERSONAL CONTACTS  Heavy Duty Equipment Technicians  Heavy Equipment Operators 05. SOCIAL MEDIA  Welders * 2014 Hire Learning Survey  Audiologists & Speech Language Pathologists “We recognize that skilled  Midwives newcomers help fill shortages  Psychologists  Lawyers in key occupations and make 

an important contribution to Canada’s economy.” - Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment, Social Development and Multiculturalism

6.2%

UNEMPLOYMENT

rate in Hamilton *Statistics Canada, 2014

1) Trades (ex. Electrician) 2) Health care & social assistance 3) Manufacturing 4) Education services 5) Professional, scientific, technical services 6) Construction 7) Finance, insurance, real estate and leasing 8) Accommodation & food services 9) Business, building, other support services 10) Transportation & warehousing * Workforce Planning Hamilton

85%

of employers said they would hire immigrants to meet their needs if they are the best qualified. * Respondents to Hiring Immigrants in Hamilton Survey, 2013

CAll 905-529-5209 TO SIGN UP FOR JOB SEARCH WORKSHOPS TODAY!

14 • Winter 2014/15

@UNPACKMAG

GETTING CERTIFIED A S A N I N T E R N AT I O N A L LY T R A I N E D P R O F E S S I O N A L

WORKED IN THE TRADES?

The path to gaining certification to work in Canada is unique to each career. For those who worked professionally in the trades abroad, here are the steps to take for certification.

STEPS TO

ACCREDITATION & EMPLOYMENT

Does your career have a regulatory body?

NO YES Have your credentials assessed. World Education Services Canada www.wes.org.ca|1-866-343-0700 International Credential Assessment Service of Canada www.icascanada.ca | 1-800-321-6021

CAll 905-529-5209 TO SIGN UP FOR JOB SEARCH WORKSHOPS TODAY!

Created with files from Radenka Lescesen.

Meet with your regulatory body to assess your qualifications.

Are bridging or mentorship programs available in your field? Research possibilities.

Prepare for the Canadian workplace at the IWC’s Job Search Workshop.

Meet with a Settlement or Employment Counsellor to plan your next steps.

If at first you don’t succeed, try again. Don’t lose hope.

HOW LONG WILL THIS TAKE? From a few days to five years, depending on your experience.

WANT MORE INFORMATION? Visit collegeoftrades.ca & internationallytrainedworkers.ca

1. Gather your papers.

6. Let the exam begin!

DIPLOMAS, TRANSCRIPTS, LETTERS FROM UNIONS & EMPLOYERS

CALL THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES TO BOOK THE ONTARIO CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION EXAM AND PAY YOUR FEE. EXAMS CAN BE TAKEN YEAR ROUND, BUT MUST BE TAKEN WITHIN 90 DAYS OF APPLYING.

2. Get your assessment. MAKE AN APPOINTMENT WITH A CONSULTANT AT THE COLLEGE OF TRADES, WHO WILL ASSESS YOUR TRAINING & EXPERIENCE.

3. Need more training? IF YOU NEED MORE EXPERIENCE OR EDUCATION, YOU CAN ENTER AN APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM.

4. Apply for examination.

What can I expect at the exam? - 3 hours long in multiple choice format - you can get an interpreter in English or French, but they can’t help you to answer the questions. - you must get 70% to pass. - if you fail, you can write it again in 15 days

AFTER YOU MEET THE REQUIREMENTS, COMPLETE AN APPLICATION FORM FOR THE CERTIFICATE OF QUALIFICATION.

7. Get licensed.

5. Study, study, study.

ONCE YOU HAVE RECEIVED YOUR CERTIFICATION OF QUALIFICATION, YOU MUST CONTACT THE ONTARIO COLLEGE OF TRADES TO APPLY FOR MEMBERSHIP. IF ACCEPTED, YOU MUST PAY A MEMBERSHIP FEE.

YOU CAN TAKE AN EXAM PREPARATION COURSE AT A LOCAL COLLEGE TO ENSURE YOU HAVE THE KNOWLEDGE TO SUCCEED.

NUMBER OF REGULATORY BODIES IN ONTARIO

REGULATED NON-HEALTH PROFESSIONS Architecture Certified Engineering Technicians & Technology Certified General Accounting Certified Management Accounting Chartered Professional Accounting Early Childhood Educator Forestry Geoscience Land Surveying Law Professional Engineering Social Work and Social Service Work Teaching Veterinary Medicine

REGULATED HEALTH PROFESSIONS Audiology and Speech-Language Pathology Chiropody and Podiatry Chiropractic Dental Hygiene Dentistry / Dental Technology / Denturism Dietetics Massage Therapy Medical Laboratory Technology Medical Radiation Technology Medicine - Physician or Surgeon Midwifery Nursing Occupational Therapy Opticianry Optometry Pharmacy Pharmacy Technician Physiotherapy Psychology Respiratory Therapy

UNPACKMAG.CA

Winter 2014/15 • 15

Ending the waiting game A CLOSER LOOK AT NEW EXPRESS ENTRY IMMIGRATION

MICHELLE BOTH

With a PhD and two Master’s, Mohammad Islam has been waiting four years to enter the job market. The new Express Entry system is hoping to reduce wait times for future immigrants.

By Anabelle Ragsag and Radenka Lescesen In 2007, Mohammad Islam applied for permanent residency to Canada under the Federal Skilled Worker Program. Islam was in his third year as a PhD engineering student in a US university. One a half years later and having spent $16,000 - he and his wife, a trained medical doctor back in their home country, were permitted into Canada. Four years later with a second Master’s degree and several certificate courses in between - the couple have yet to fully enter the Canadian labour market. A new program, called Express Entry, coming to effect in January 2015 is expected to mediate this for future applicants. With Express Entry, a job offer is a prerequisite before one can take up a permanent residency application. This means that with a job offer or a nomination from a province, the process will become faster from two to five year wait, now a process that should be completed within six months or less. At present, it is not uncommon to see newcomer medical doctors working as personal support workers, university professors driving cabs, and engineers working in call centres. In a 2012 study by Li Xu, Who Drives a Taxi in Canada?, the findings show that an overwhelming majority of doctorate or medicine related degree holders, which were immigrant, were working as taxi drivers in Canada. Further, majority of 6,040 taxi drivers, at 80.7 precent held bachelor’s or master’s degrees.

“Immigrants go where there are opportunities. The advantage of Express Entry is that it does not elevate people’s expectations. [Under the present system,] we are doing a disservice when you have immigrants who come to Canada, the best and the brightest in their countries but they can’t find work here,” says Sarah Wayland, Project lead of Global Hamilton, an initiative aimed at immigrant attraction and retention in Hamilton.

Where is the blindspot?

However, there are still some unanswered questions

“Immigrants go where there are opportunities. The advantage of Express Entry is that it does not elevate people’s expectations. ” about how the program will work. For example, what will this mean for licensed professions such as doctors? They may have a job pending, and while there is enough demand, their qualifications and credentials will still need to be acknowledged within the current licensing system. Canada’s Express Entry is patterned after similar systems in New Zealand and Australia. However, those systems target applicants already within the country. In Canada, the express system is only meant to target those

outside – so what will happen to the current number of temporary foreign workers who are filling a demand but still have precarious immigration status. Furthermore, it is not clear what this will mean for employers who may have to wait up to six months to fill a position or hire someone but once they have arrived may find are not the right fit for the position. Critics are also questioning if this new immigration scheme will reinforce a selection bias within the system. Further, some analysts highlight that this echoes similar restrictive and narrowing changes in Canada’s policies concerning immigration and naturalization since 2008.

Where do we go from here?

It remains to be seen how Express Entry will playout. This is expected to be a game-changer for how the immigrant-serving organizations will operate. “As the Express Entry will be targeting highly-ranked candidates from the applicant pool, on the basis of their education and attractiveness to employers, a reinvention of present immigrant services might be called for,” says Ines Rios, Executive Director of the Immigrant Women’s Centre. “This may be in the form of pre-arrival services to newcomers; settlement services content targeting both newcomers and employers; information outreach to employers; and a greater collaboration with the business and employer community are among these. We stand ready for that.” Anabelle Ragsag is Monitoring and Evaluation Coordinator at the Immigrant Women’s Centre. Radenka Lescesen is Settlement Manager in the same organization.

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