Program helps small firms hire skilled immigrants

Two consulting engineering firms from western Canada have been chosen among the Top 20 Best Employers for New Canadians.
A list of the top 20 was published in The Toronto Star on February 21. Associated Engineering Group of Edmonton and Wardrop Engineering of Winnipeg were on the list.
Criteria used to select the companies included the firms’ training programs, hiring practices, internships, mentorships and how well they checked immigrants’ overseas credentials.
The list is compiled by the editors of Mediacorp’s annual publication, Canada’s Top 100 Employers, in partnership with the Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council.
The Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council has just launched a campaign to encourage small companies to hire skilled immigrants. The website www.hireimmigrants.ca provides interactive tools and resources to help employers find, hire and retain staff from overseas.
The website contains information and resources specific to regions across Canada. It also gives access to a directory of services and tips for assessing foreign credentials and evaluating international work experience and education.
www.hireimmigrants.ca is funded by the Ontario government and Citizenship and Immigration Canada.