Feds announce EMPP expansion
The federal government aims to expand its Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) in an effort to bring in as many as 2,000 more skilled refugees to work in in-demand sectors, such as health care, skilled trades and information technology.
Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Minister Sean Fraser announced the government’s plans last month.
Through the EMPP, partner organizations help skilled refugees overseas connect with employers who need to fill critical labour shortages in occupations like nurse aides and personal support workers, chefs and cooks, and skilled tradespeople. Once candidates receive a job offer, they can apply to immigrate to Canada through existing economic programs, using EMPP measures that remove barriers refugees may experience due to their displacement.
“Resettlement provides refugees with the opportunity to live in safety and rebuild their lives, but it shouldn’t mean their career experience gets overlooked in the process,” said Fraser. “Through this ground-breaking program, our government is highlighting skilled refugees’ professional achievements by allowing them to continue their career in Canada, while giving employers access to a pool of global talent.”
To make it easier for qualified candidates to apply, the federal government is rolling out a new and more flexible process. Facilitation measures include waiving some fees, making it easier for applicants to prove their work experience, and letting them use loans to fund travel costs, settlement needs, start-up costs and fees that cannot be waived.
In addition, partners will be able to directly refer and support candidates. To help them with this new role, trusted partners will receive mandatory training and go through quality assurance reviews.
Fraser also announced that the federal government would provide $6.2 million to support six projects by EMPP partner organizations. The projects will help those organizations identify qualified candidates overseas, and supporting candidates and employers throughout the interview, hiring, and immigration processes. Funding will also support the work of a partner organization that helps EMPP newcomers with affordable microloans.
According to the Global Trends Report 2021 from the United Nations Refugee Agency, Canada resettled more refugees than any other country in the world that year, with over 20,400 refugees finding permanent, safe homes.