The Business Council of Canada shared a list of pre-budget ideas with the government to help in long-term growth and create job opportunities.
The open letter was shared with Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland by the business leaders. The letter suggested seven key ideas that can help promote economic recovery. Goldy Hyder, the author, emphasized that the immigration of skilled foreign workers should be encouraged.
Hyder wrote: “We need to cultivate and enhance our human capital by developing a more agile and adaptable workforce, doing more to help young Canadians build rewarding careers, and enhancing our immigration system to make our country an even more powerful magnet for international talent.”
Furthermore, the recommendation list also requested the federal government to lift restrictions on labour market integration. It especially highlighted foreign credential recognition. It restricts some skilled workers from getting a job in their fields. A computer engineer driving a taxi instead of working in the technical field could be an example of foreign credential recognition.
The letter also draws attention to how low-wage and foreign workers have been negatively impacted by the COVID-19 outbreak. The author of the letter mentioned that the displaced workers might need retraining to return to work.
“The federal government should work with employers, provinces and territories to develop a comprehensive skills agenda that prepares displaced workers for new careers in sectors where talent is in high demand,” Hyder said in the letter, calling for training initiatives that are “business-led and results-driven.” He specified the working models of Palette, a non-profit that offers training and also the Business and Higher Education Roundtable which provides work-integrated learning.
In 2021, Canada conducted a three-week pre-budget consultation that was open to the public. That allowed the citizens to participate in prioritizing the important matters in the new budget.
Since March 2019, no new budget has been tabled for the country. The former finance minister was about to table the budget in 2020 but was cancelled due to a major setback in the country’s economy due to the pandemic.
When the consultation was launched early this year by Freeland, she emphasized that the important matter for the country is to focus on jobs and growth.
The Liberal government will spend $15 million on this and the next year. That will help to scale up support for the integration of skilled newcomers into the labour industry. Sectors like health, IT, and skilled trades will be the primary focus. In July 2020, the country sanctioned $72.1 million to the immigration department so they can advance their processing system from the paper-based mechanism.
Katherine Cuplinskas, a spokesperson for Freeland, gave a response to the recommendation list and cited the figures.
Cuplinskas also stated that attracting skilled talents from around the world will help Canada recover the economy, and the country will continue to welcome immigrants.
