New Canadians and Innovation economy

NEW CANADIANS AND THE INOVATIVE ECONOMY

PARTICIPANTS: STEVE SACHS ALINA PELCARSLEY CATHERINE SOPLET KATHY ACHESON ALIREZA SULTANI WALTER STEWART BRENDA HALLORAN ROY PARRY CATHY MACHELLAN

Issues:

FOREIGN CREDENTIALS

Many employers do not recognize foreign credentials because they are unaware of their legitimacy.  A panelist pointed out that the problem  is more severe in self- regulated professions, there are often very expensive tests for gaining a license.  We debated whether these restrictions were mindless or mindFULL.  Self regulated professions, unlike employers, have an incentive to discurage further membership because more members  means sharing the wealth/opportunities.  We considered threatening to take away their permission to self regulate in order to pressure these organizations into getting rid of unneccesary barriers.

English as a Second Language

ESL VERY DIFFICULT FOR FIRST GENERATION .  Children learn more easily than adults- leads to an upside down power dynamic in households.  Some new Canadians settle for lesser jobs quickly before learning english.  English as a second language has been hurt by government cut backs.  The Waterloo District School board cut  their ESL classes, thankfully the Catholic school board stepped in.  Alireza Sultani, a panelist, noted his class had 18 students.  Other panelists argued this  is  too large for an ESL class because individual participation is so crucial.

A panelist who worked in ESL noted the problem of language integration.  Sometimes students who could not write in  any language were placed in classrooms with Doctors or students with many written languages.

Canadian Experience

We noted the self fulfilling problem of lacking Canadian experience.  We noted many new canadians use volunteering to filled the gap and inquired  about/ suggested some paid programs to give new Canadians Canadian experience.

WRIEN WORKS WITH THIS GROUP TO PROVIDE EXPERIENCE CHAMBER OF COMMERCE AND CITY OF WATERLOO HAVE MENTORING PROGRAMS

CULTURE 

One panelist who is an employer, noted the difficulty of working with  some new Canadians that he  felt brought with them a  more deferential culture. (Looking up to authority, rather than challenging)  In his profession, he desired  employees that would challenge him and come up with new ideas.

Brain Drain

WHAT IS THE RIGHT OF CANADA TO IMPORT THE BRIGHTEST AND BEST OF FOREIGN COUNTRIES TO CANADA?  We  struggled  with this  issue.

How  are new Canadians supposed to navigate their way through the gov't support system when it is complicated enough for Canadian born english speakers and they may speak little english?

DISCUSSION ABOUT HAVING ENGLISH KNOWLEDGE BEFORE ARRIVING IN CANADA.  Many argued THAT THIS WAS A POSITIVhyE THING FOR IMMIGRANTS.  However the point was raised: Is this a buyers market or a sellers market? DO WE RISK ALLOWING OUR FUTURE EMPLOYEES GET AWAY IF WE FORCE THEN TO KNOW ENGLISH BEFORE THEY GET HERE?  A panelist noted  how crucial immigration is to our economy.  We have a decling birth rate, but healthy population growth thanks to immigration.  He predicted OUR ECONOMY WILL HAVE A SHORTAGE OF EMPLOYEES BY 2013

WE NEED A LOT MORE ENERGY AND THOUGHT INTO LANGUAGE INTERGREATION.

CAN WE EXPECT THE SAME EXPECTATIONS FROM SOMEONE WHO IS A POLISH DOCTOR LEARNING ENGLISH AS OPPOSED TO SOMEONE WHO IS NOT LITERATE IN ANY LANGUAGE