Identifying Ontario immigration opportunities.

• Author: Stewart, Nick
• Position: NEWS

In order to help shrink the gaps in North Bay's business and employment landscape, the city's economic development office is conducting a survey to identify the local immigrant population.

FedNor has provided $27,500 to the North Bay Newcomers Network to hire an intern who is assisting with the development and dissemination of the survey in conjunction with the city.

"There are businesses in the region that cannot expand, due to a lack of particular skilled workers or employees of a certain educational level," says Marla Tremblay, economic development officer.

"If we can identify skill sets and the education of people who have come here from other countries, and possibly assist them to get their qualifications in their field, then we can provide a mutual benefit both to business and the immigrant."

Development of the survey is scheduled to be completed within the month, and then issued to the public by way of church and club locations where friends and family can further distribute the survey.

Half of Canada's estimated 250,000 immigrants come to Ontario on an annual basis, and only three per cent, or 50 people a year, move to Northern Ontario. According to Statistics Canada, 2,720 foreign-born permanent residents were living in North Bay in 2001,240 of which had immigrated between 1991 and 2001.

National census reports do not include non-permanent residents or those still seeking their residency. This incorrectly skews the numbers of immigrants living in North Bay, complicating any economic development strategies looking to target them as a demographic, Tremblay says.

As a result, the survey will not only identify the unknown employment opportunities and abilities available among the local immigrant population, but will also serve to supplement these gaps in the national census.

By determining what's...