TBB welcomes new economic pathway for more skilled refugees to build careers in Canada

Employers in Canada are facing extraordinary challenges in finding and retaining the workers they need, with over 840,000 vacancies in the last quarter across the country. At the same time, there are millions of refugees and other displaced people who possess a diverse range of skills and find themselves in countries where they don’t have the right to work locally and are unable to safely rebuild their careers and their lives.

We welcome this week’s announcement by the Canadian Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, the Honourable Sean Fraser, launching a new economic permanent residence pathway that will enhance the ability of employers to tap into displaced talent outside of Canada to fill critical labour shortages across the country. 

Our Canada Director Lara Dyer, TBB Canada Board Chair Hon. John McCallum, and our partner Rand Al Jammal of Jumpstart Refugee Talent were in Toronto to hear the announcement of the new economic pathway by Minister Fraser.

The expansion of the Economic Mobility Pathways Pilot (EMPP) will open the doors for TBB to connect more employers with skilled refugees, ensuring that employment opportunities are filled with workers that meet the needs of each position. It will also enable TBB to work with employers who have job vacancies at every skill level, from entry level positions such as hotel cleaners to those in need of specialized skills in construction, healthcare, hospitality, and information technology, for example. The new pathway will aim to process applications within six months in most cases, facilitating a speedy move for newcomers to Canada and enabling them to begin working promptly. 

As a trusted partner under the Government of Canada’s EMPP, TBB has worked alongside government officials, our domestic partner Jumpstart Refugee Talent, and other EMPP implementing partners to make it easier for skilled refugees to apply and expedite the hiring process for employers. In the coming years, Canada aims to welcome 2,000 skilled refugees to fill labour shortages in high-demand sectors. TBB sees this new pathway as a crucial step towards reaching that goal. 

“This pathway will open up a world of possibilities for both skilled refugees and employers,” said our Canada Director, Lara Dyer. “We can now take advantage of every opportunity to connect refugees with employers in need of workers, which will strengthen Canadian businesses and local economies, and build a brighter future for all Canadians.”

Diala was a refugee displaced in Lebanon. In 2020, she moved to Canada with support from TBB and now works as a registered nurse in Toronto. Ontario, where there has been a severe nursing shortage in recent years.  Ontario is in need of skilled workers like Diala who can support the province’s healthcare system. 

“Canada has been really open and welcoming to us,” Diala says. “I see myself building a future here and coming to Canada has helped me evolve both as a person and in my career. The opportunities here are wide open.” 

If you’re an employer in Canada who would like to learn more about what the expansion of the EMPP means for hiring talent for your business, we encourage you to get in contact with us by filling out our request to hire form.