OTTAWA - The Conference Board of Canada has established the Centre for Business Insights on Immigration (CBII), a new research hub aimed at enhancing the integration of immigrant talent into the Canadian labor market. Announced today, the center is designed to address the persistent challenges employers encounter in matching immigrant skills with job opportunities.
Susan Black, President and CEO of The Conference Board of Canada, emphasized the importance of immigrant integration for the nation's economic growth, noting the underutilization of immigrant skills due to labor market integration issues. This situation, she stated, results in suboptimal economic outcomes for both immigrants and employers.
The CBII's mission is to provide stakeholders with knowledge and insights to improve the management of immigrant talent. It is backed by key partnerships, including Scotiabank (TSX:BNS), which has expressed support for the initiative. Jean-Francois Perrault, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist at Scotiabank, highlighted the opportunity for Canada to reshape the narrative on immigration.
The center has already launched a research project focusing on the integration of immigrant talent in small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) across five Canadian cities. The study aims to identify the specific hurdles these businesses face and propose practical recommendations.
With the support of Scotiabank, MobSquad, and Tourism HR Canada, the CBII plans to explore further critical issues in Canada's immigration system through its research agenda.
The Conference Board of Canada, known for its independent research since 1954, and Scotiabank, a leading financial institution with assets of approximately $1.4 trillion as of January 31, 2024, are collaborating to address pressing immigration challenges through the establishment of the CBII. This initiative is based on a press release statement from The Conference Board of Canada.
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