The current and chronic labour shortage in the NWT is holding many sectors back. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a frustrating situation for a business owner, or senior manager, that sees immigration as a potential solution to fill a job opening, but is often tripped up by red tape or slams into a solid wall of bureaucracy.
Savvy operators wonSA国际影视传媒檛 throw up their hands in frustration and settle for slower growth or cutbacks. A more strategic approach can be adopted by businesses that know there will be a certain amount of employee churn each year. Part of that plan can be to align yourself with a group such as the NWT Chamber of Commerce as it is directly involved with efforts to loosen existing regulations, draw up new rules, or just find ways to better connect with people who have their papers and are ready to move to Canada.
A new initiative is underway locally that directly connects immigrants holding Permanent Residence visas ready to move to Canada with employers in the NWT that have openings to fill.
NWT Chamber of Commerce president Newton Grey is a member of the Yellowknife Immigration Partnership who, along with Conseil de d茅veloppement 茅conomique des Territoires du Nord-Ouest (CD脡TNO), is leading the Connecting Canada project that is facilitated through ACCES Employment in Toronto. The Connecting Canada project is based on the premise that if more immigrants knew about opportunities to live, work, and grow in smaller urban and rural communities before they arrived in Canada, more of them would choose to move there.
By introducing pre-arrival immigrants to community members and employers who are motivated to hire immigrants, Connecting Canada helps pre-arrival immigrants learn more about the wide range of communities they could choose to settle in and the services they can access to help them. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 a two-part process that first allows the community SA国际影视传媒� in this case the entire territory SA国际影视传媒� to pitch its positives to a group of visa holders eligible for pre-arrival services from across the world who have learned about the program.
On May 3, an online virtual meeting was held that attracted 65 immigrants who will be shortly moving to Canada, but have not decided on a destination.
SA国际影视传媒淚 first want to say congratulations on making it this far,SA国际影视传媒� Grey said to the partners and immigrants watching the live session. SA国际影视传媒淚 know the excitement you must have felt when you got that letter to say that you are now welcome to come to Canada as a permanent resident, but that excitement now raises the question, where do I go?
SA国际影视传媒淎nd ISA国际影视传媒檓 telling you the only place to be is in the Northwest Territories.SA国际影视传媒�
At the start of the hour-long session, only three-per cent of the group indicated they had heard of the NWT, let alone thought of moving here. At the end, 50 had stayed connected and of those, 87 per cent indicated they were now interested in moving to the territory.
SA国际影视传媒淪ome of you might be thinking of starting your own business,SA国际影视传媒� said Grey. SA国际影视传媒淎nd there are so many opportunities right now for new businesses (and there are also) people who are retiring and want to sell their businesses.SA国际影视传媒�
But as for people just looking for a job? SA国际影视传媒淓very time I speak to members throughout the 33 communities that make up the Northwest Territories, I hear about a need.SA国际影视传媒�
Job outlines from NWT businesses to be considered for this free service are now being accepted and the second Connecting Canada session takes place on May 26. This is where local employers can have their job descriptions posted and be connected to potential employees in-person online and receive resumes. ItSA国际影视传媒檚 been likened to speed dating for jobs.
SA国际影视传媒淪o if if thereSA国际影视传媒檚 any NWT Chamber member who has a position that theySA国际影视传媒檙e looking (to fill), these are people who have gone through the immigration process already. They are coming to Canada with or without you and It wonSA国际影视传媒檛 cost you a penny, you donSA国际影视传媒檛 have to pay immigration, anything,SA国际影视传媒� Grey told our board at its meeting on May 17.
SA国际影视传媒淚f you have a vacancy to fill, it might be a nice place to come on and advertise your job. And youSA国际影视传媒檒l be able to do the first interview right there. And if this goes well, it attracts them to land in Yellowknife and our communities as opposed to landing in Toronto and waiting for six months to decide that itSA国际影视传媒檚 not working in Toronto and they want to come to the North.SA国际影视传媒�
This is the type of behind-the-scenes work chambers of commerce engage in that isnSA国际影视传媒檛 as recognizable as member networking get-togethers or public seminars and conventions. This is especially true for the NWT Chamber, as we represent all regions of the territory, so a lot of time is spent on advocacy, member relations and public education.
SA国际影视传媒淚 was born in the Caribbean, and moved to Canada SA国际影视传媒� like many people I thought the wise thing to do would be to live in a big city,SA国际影视传媒� an enthusiastic Grey said in his presentation. SA国际影视传媒淪o I moved to Ontario. But then I moved to the Northwest Territories SA国际影视传媒� best decision ISA国际影视传媒檝e ever made! ISA国际影视传媒檝e never one day regretted it. And I guarantee you, if you make that decision, you will never regret it.SA国际影视传媒�
Please feel free to contact Grey for more information at: president@nwtchamber.com or myself at: admin@nwtchamber.com. There is also a short movie showing Grey making his pitch for the NWT at: nwtchamber.com
