Program connects Halifax immigrants with opportunities

 BY MARTHA WILSON 

What do you do if you move to a new place where you don’t have a job, family or friends? You try to plug into an existing network.

Creating that network for new­comers has been the goal of the Connector Program of the Greater Halifax Partnership economic development organiza­tion, says Fred Morley, executive vice-president and chief economist with the organization.

The International Economic Development Council this month recognized the program with two gold awards of excellence. The program has been emulated in 10 other Canadian cities, Morley notes, ranging in size from Montreal to Truro, and is being implemented in Calgary and by the province of New Brunswick.

One of the keys to the pro­gram’s success is its simplicity.

Morley explains: “We have recruited about 400 business volunteers . . . and we simply ask them to sit with an immigrant, a young professional or a recent grad and have a low-key conver­sation about opportunities in Halifax."

Significantly, this conversation is not a job interview.

“It’s just about reaching out. Each volunteer connector is asked to provide three contacts for the person to follow up with. Each of the three new connectors repeats the process, and in this way the person quickly builds their business and personal net­work, acquires and refines inter­view skills, and often ends up in a quality job."

Program participant Doris Du says the program helped her define what would come next for her.

“It provided me with a big picture of my future career path." She says she got to know more people and also gained confid­ence, “in both work and personal

life." Lurace Lee, another participant, says finding employ­ment is challenging without local connections, even if there’s no significant language barrier.

“It helped me with confidence, and networking in particular, and getting established here in Nova Scotia. Usually, people feel more secure if they are employed and have stable income."

The program helps answer real questions employers might have, she says.

“I can see employers, espe­cially small (to) mid-size, may feel unsure if new immigrants know enough about Canada to be able to work well. The Connector Program is a good example of connecting us with potential employers.”

And new employees are needed to make the economy grow. As Morley says, citing figures from the Canadian Occupation Projection Survey, the number of young Nova Scotians is dropping; the province’s 14-and-under population has declined by about 27,000 over the past decade.

Yet the coming five years are expected to open up around 75,000 jobs, either in new positions or as replacements for retiring workers.

According to the Greater Halifax Partnership’s Krista Hall, more than 130 people have found jobs through the program since its launch in 2009.

“This year, there are 170 immigrants, international students and young and emerging professionals participating in the program. So far this year, 21 participants have found jobs.”

Like Morley, she emphasizes that our lives encompass much more than our work.

“Finding employment is a measure of success, but it’s not the only one,” she says.

“The knowledge participants gain about the local job market also equips them with the information they need to upgrade or retrain for the career they’d like to pursue in Halifax. Gaining professional and community contacts is also a benefit for someone trying to settle in a new community.

“The program really is about connecting people to opportunities in Halifax, whether they be education, employment or community related.”

Thriving in Tough Times is a series developed by the business development centre at Saint Mary's University in Halifax.

U.S. or Canada: Which country is best to call home?

By Janine Eccleston | Investopedia – Tue, 16 Oct, 2012 5:37 PM EDT

This question is part of the age-old debate between two nations. The societies of both Canada and the United States hold the view that their own country is the better place to live. Generally, neither country learns all the facts about what the other country has to offer. So, which is better: Canada or the United States?

BenefitsBecoming a mother is one of the greatest gifts in the world. Spending time with your child as he or she grows up is a need of every mother. How does your country support new moms?

Canada
Canada has paid leave, and many employers offer benefits to new mothers, or parents, ranging from 17 weeks up to as much as 52 weeks. During this time, one of the spouses can claim Employment Insurance (EI) for approximately 15 weeks. Generally, EI payments are 55% of weekly earnings but have a maximum payment of $485 per week. Parents can also split the allocated time if they choose.

U.S.While their northerly neighbors have a solid set of maternity and parental benefits, the United States currently does not mandate any sort of maternity leave. However, the Family and Medical Leave Act (FMLA) allows up to 12 weeks of unpaid leave for extreme sickness and birth of a child. While this 12 weeks of unpaid leave is not specifically categorized as maternity leave, it can be used under the FMLA as such. Small companies of under 50 employees are exempt from the FMLA. Some states such as California and New Jersey include paid maternity benefits into their disability insurance, but this choice is solely at the discretion of each state.

ServicesSome of the more well-known services available to Canadians and Americans are healthcare and university funding. The United States is ranked No. 1 for most expensive healthcare per capita at $8,233. Conversely, Canada ranks No. 6 worldwide and is over $3,700 cheaper than the United States at $4,445 per capita, according to a 2012 OECD Health Data study using 2010 statistics. Americans pay over 17% of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP) towards healthcare while Canadians sit at about 11%.

University can be another extremely large cost in a person's life. It puts many students tens of thousands of dollars in debt. Individual states have the choice on whether or not they want to grant funding to large state-run universities. Despite these grants, schooling is still very expensive for the average American. A bachelor's degree in the U.S. can run from about $37,600 for an average public college to over $160,000 at prestigious schools such as Harvard. In Canada, the average cost of an undergraduate degree starts at $8,000 (Quebec) and increases to about $26,000. The most expensive undergraduate programs in Canada will cost around $50,000, which is approximately one-third the cost of a degree from Harvard University.

Average SalariesAccording to the website numbeo.com, the average income of an American and a Canadian are approximately the same amount. Canada's after-tax monthly income is about $3,000 which totals around $36,000 per year. The U.S. sits just below Canada at approximately $2,942 per month, or roughly $35,300 per year.

The real difference is seen in the cost of living. While Americans and Canadians roughly make the same amount per annum, there are large gaps in specific spending areas of both countries.

The monthly rent for a one-bedroom condominium in the downtown area of your average city in Canada is near $907, but only about $878 in the United States. This difference of roughly $29 per month adds up to nearly $350 in the course of a year. If you multiply that over a five-year span, you are looking at over $1,700 in additional expenses for housing alone.

Food is much more costly in Canada. One kilogram of chicken breasts costs around $6.50 in the United States, while it averages almost $11 in Canada. A mid-range, three-course meal for two in Canada ends up costing $60. In the U.S. you are only paying about $44. Finally, clothing is more expensive in Canada than in the United States. A $40 pair of Levi's jeans in the States will run you about $55 in Canada.

If all the little things are added that cost more in Canada, the total is far more than the $750 salary difference that was originally stated. By this measure, the U.S. is cheaper to live in.

The Bottom LineCanadians receive better social benefits such as healthcare, paid maternity leave and greater subsidization of their post-secondary schools. Both countries generally have around the same annual income. However, the cost of living in the United States is remarkably less. While Canadians may pay less for larger-life events, Americans pay less for day-to-day expenses such as eating and housing costs. Maybe it all evens out in the end, or perhaps one place really is better to live than the other. If you live a healthy and active lifestyle and don't plan on having children, the U.S. is potentially the place for you. If you plan on having many children and need the help putting them all through school, Canada may be the more suitable choice for your family. Whichever the case, the choice should be made on the basis of what you value most. Take into consideration your current and future lifestyle.

I’m new to Canada. How do I crack the job market?

English: Advertisement of the Canadian goverment in the Christmas edition of the Globe newspaper encouraging the settlement of Western Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Special to The Globe and Mail

THE QUESTION:

I am an immigrant to Canada, with a sociology degree and two diplomas. I try not to let my co-workers know about my qualifications but they have devised plans in the guise of job promotions where they ask for my résumé and when they observe my qualifications they become more hostile and the posting is either withdrawn or someone else gets the position.

I am a hard worker and think nothing of starting from the bottom. However, it has come to the stage whereby I can no longer put up with this type of behaviour toward me. I have been told I am too confident and happy and that I should be taught a lesson. As a result, I’ve decided to leave Canada. It’s a shame, as I really like this country and I thought it would be great to be an immigrant. I have spoken to agencies who even offered to visit my employers. Do you have any advice for me?

THE FIRST ANSWER:

Greg Conner

Vice-president, human resources, League Financial Partners, Victoria

I can only imagine the challenges faced by you and other immigrant workers as they integrate into the Canadian work force. Workplaces are demanding and highly competitive for the average Canadian, let alone for its valued newcomers.

While educational background and credentials play a role, Canadian employers focus on a number of other key factors when selecting the best candidate for a job. Some of the most common include competencies, personality and behavioural traits, adaptability, and overall organizational fit. This approach can be unfamiliar to people who have previously been awarded jobs based on education or technical ability alone.

A number of wonderful organizations focus on offering support and assistance to immigrants seeking work in Canada, and I encourage you to reach out to them if you haven’t already. I also encourage you to familiarize yourself with as many Canadian employers as possible and learn what they look for in selecting a candidate. Perhaps most important, seek feedback from your current or prospective employers about why you haven’t been successful in obtaining a position. Most employers are happy to provide post-competition feedback, much of which can be helpful in preparing for your next interview.

Do not give up on Canada; we truly are a living mosaic made stronger by having immigrants who bring their cultural diversity for all Canadians to learn from, just as they learn from other Canadians.

THE SECOND ANSWER:

Zuleika Sgro

Human resources partner and talent manager, Questrade.com, Toronto

The work force is filled with difficult situations and to build your career you have to overcome adversities that you face. I advise you to truly ask yourself what you want, what you expect, and how you will get there.

The best advice I have received in my career is that you can and do create your own destiny – not others. By your description of your experience you may be focusing only on the negatives. Surely, there must be positive aspects to your experience in Canada.

I encourage you to research all the possibilities and opportunities in Canada before you move on. There is an employer out there for everyone – it just takes time. There are ample resources in Canada for newcomers. You are still the one who needs to get the job, but they will support you with resources to help get you there.

In terms of your qualifications and how you present them on your résumé, it is important for employers to see your most relevant experience to the role you are applying for. Be sure to focus on relevancy rather than disguising your qualifications. Be upfront with all the qualifications you have, but ensure they are relevant to the position. If you are overqualified, or under-qualified, the relevancy of your experience and skills will determine if it’s the right fit for you.

Related articles

• Having your Credentials Recognized
• What do Canadian employers want?
• Finding a Job in Canada as an Immigrant
• Recruiters Charging BC-Bound Chinese Temp Miners $12,500 (in News)

Best Country For Kids: Canada Best Place In The World To Raise Children

Happy Canada Day (Photo credit: Anirudh Koul)

Congratulations Canada — you have yourself a mighty fine reputation among parents.

In the recent HSBC Expat Explorer Survey 2012, Canada ranked first among the nine nations considered in the "raising children abroad" category, competing against such countries as the Netherlands, the USA and Saudi Arabia.

Surveying more than 5,300 expats around the globe — who, after all, would know more about raising kids in a variety of countries than anyone else — the annual survey is meant to help those who are moving to foreign countries get the most information they can before they depart. Although the report did not break down findings into cities, the Mercer 2012 Cost of Living Rankings marked Toronto, Vancouver, Montreal, and Calgary on their extensive list of expatriate communities.

Of particular note in the 2012 HSBC survey was the Canadian love of the outdoors, with 40 per cent of expat parents saying their children now spent time outdoors once they moved to Canada, and 45 per cent saying their kids are now playing sports. Even the parents were affected, with a quarter of the adults noting they were playing more sports since arriving in Canada.

Other global rankings haven't seen Canada fare quite as well, with Save the Children's State of the World's Mother report putting the country at the 19th best place in the world to be a mother, based on male-to-female income ratios, maternity leave benefits, educational enrolment, female life expectancy, risk of maternal death, and women's participation in government.

Meanwhile, separate categories in the HSBC survey proved illustrative in light of Canadians' beliefs about ourselves. A rank of 14 for overall experience puts the country in the middle of the pack of 30 countries, though being the fifth easiest country to set up in (taking into account things like finding accommodation) could speak to the efficiency of our bureaucracy as compared to other places. Meanwhile, 62 per cent of expats felt the locals were incredibly friendly, and chose to spend more time with "homegrown' Canadians than other expats.

Source: http://www.huffingtonpost.ca/2012/10/16/best-country-for-kids_n_1970883.html#slide=more257227

Related articles

• Your Kids Will Have A Better Life If You Move To Canada
• Fleeing the Country? Here Are the Best Places to Land
• New rules 'make it harder' for older Britons to settle in Canada

Loans aim to help immigrants return to skilled fields

A new program has been launched to help Manitoba immigrants who were dentists, nurses, engineers or other skilled workers in their home countries get back into their professional fields.

The two-year pilot program, Recognition Counts! Micro Loans for Skilled Immigrants, will offer micro loans of up to $10,000 to low-income, skilled immigrants and provide career and financial counselling to help them meet Canada's re-accreditation and training requirements.

"Recognition Counts! gives our province's newcomers the resources they need to get their qualifications recognized, enter our labour market sooner and build a life for their families," said Manitoba Immigration Minister Christine Melnick.

"These microloans are good for our economy and they'll make a real difference in the lives of these families."

The program was designed by Supporting Employment and Economic Development (SEED) and Assiniboine Credit Union in collaboration with the province and federal government.

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) is providing SEED with $1.2 million, including $1 million for a loan loss reserve that will guarantee 80 percent of each loan.

The province is contributing $250,000 for administration costs over three years.

Highlights of the micro loan:

• Up to $10,000.
• Can be repaid over five years.
• Interest rate is fixed at prime plus two per cent.
• No loan fees.
• A credit history in Canada is not required.
• Repayment is interest only during the immigrant's certification/study period (minimum $10/month).
• Repayment of principal and interest starts 90 days after the applicant finds employment in their field or within six months of finishing the Career Action Plan, whichever comes first.

The loan can be used for:

• Living expenses (e.g. food, shelter, transportation, childcare, etc.).
• Tuition, textbooks and computers.
• Expenses associated with costs of registration or licensing with a professional regulatory body or association or Apprenticeship Manitoba.
• Tools, equipment, work clothes, personal protective equipment.

Facts on immigration:

• 15,962 — number of immigrants to Manitoba in 2011.
• 3,725 — number of immigrants to Manitoba in 1999.
• 6.4 per cent — number of Canada's total new immigrants who came to Manitoba in 2011.
• Top 4 destinations for immigrants in 2011 — Toronto, Montreal, Calgary, Winnipeg.

Source: http://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/manitoba/story/2012/10/12/mb-micro-loans-immigrants-manitoba.html