Unprecedented Legislation Breaks Down Barriers For Newcomers

Legislation to break down barriers so that internationally trained professionals can work in their fields sooner was passed late yesterday in the Ontario Legislature, Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle announced today.

The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006 , the first legislation of its kind in Canada, would require Ontario's regulated professions to ensure their licensing process is fair, clear and open.  They would also be required to assess credentials more quickly.

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Shaping Our Future: Federation of Canadian Municipalities Advocacy Kit 2006
The Federation of Canadian Municipalities represents the interests of Canadian cities on the federal level. Their 2006 Advocacy Kit provides issue briefings and an extensive list of contacts, so that community members can gain clear understandings of the issues that affect them and easily contact their Members of Parliament.

Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform
The Citizens' Assembly on Electoral Reform is an independent body of Ontarians, entrusted to evaluate Ontario's current electoral system. They will discuss electoral issues including legitimacy, fair representation and participation. If the assembly recommends change, the Ontario Government has agreed to hold a referendum to determine if the alternative will be implemented provincially.

Opening Doors Research Scan: Labour Market Outcomes and Challenges of Immigrants
Canada's workforce is increasingly reliant on newcomer skills; this bibliography was compiled to address the barriers that immigrants currently face to employment. Noted here are studies that shed light on the labour market and settlement experiences of newcomers, with categories including: economic impact and labour market outcomes, data and trends, and policy issues. .

The Impact of Welfare State Restructuring on the Nonprofit and Voluntary Sector in Canada and the US
Karen A. Curtis' report describes the impact that welfare state restructuring has had on the nonprofit and voluntary sector in Canada and the US, particularly in British Columbia and Ontario. Drawing on interviews, participant observation and literature reviews, Curtis details the negative consequences of funding reforms, tightening eligibility requirements and downloading responsibilities to nonprofit intermediaries.

SkillsInternational
Established by a grant from the Ontario Trillium Foundation, SkillsInternational.ca unites pre-screened, internationally educated professionals with needful employers. Qualified, screened applicants may post r�sum�s, and employers may search based on relevant criteria.

Canada-Ontario Labour Market Development Agreement/
Canada-Ontario Labour Market Partnership Agreement
In November, 2005, Ontario signed Labour Market Development and Labour Market Partnership Agreements with the federal government. The former makes the province responsible for the design and delivery of Employment Insurance programs. The latter was created to fill the gaps in the labour market by providing work skills training to people not covered by EI. The agreements are linked above in PDF format.

Improving Employment Outcomes: ODSP-ES Guidelines
On April 1, 2006, Ontario Disability Support Program (ODSP) Employment Supports was transformed into a results-based employment placement and retention service for people with disabilities. These guidelines are intended to provide a framework for Regional Offices and service providers, so that they may negotiate service contracts and funding agreements based on job placement and retention targets.

Too Many Left Behind: Canada's Adult Education and Training System
Karen Myers and Patrice de Broucker report on Canada's adult education systems. Their findings show that these programs are often complex and inaccessible, and consequently those who require skills completion and upgrading the most are prevented from receiving it. The authors propose a set of principles for correcting the problem, and note some improvements in parts of Canada.

ONESTEP Human Resources Study 2006
In order to better understand the Community-Based Training sector in Ontario, ONESTEP is conducting a Human Resources Study, including a Graying Strategy and an annotated succession planning bibliography. Learn more by clicking the link provided above, or view the annotated succession planning bibliography.

OPPORTUNITIES Conference 2007: Transitioning Toward Success
The annual OPPORTUNITIES Conference will be held at Doubletree International Plaza Hotel, Toronto Airport (Hwy. 27 and Dixon Road) from April 30th to May 2nd, 2007. ONESTEP is managing the event, along with the Ontario Alliance of Career Development Practitioners (OACDP) and a multi-stakeholder advisory group. Now the largest gathering of career counselling and employment preparation professionals in Ontario, the conference continues to grow in popularity as it enters its eighth year.

ONESTEP�s Job Developer Resource Kit
ONESTEP�s Job Developer Resource Kit is a must-have primer for any community-based agency working to find and create employment opportunities for their clients. Filled with practical information, tools, and tips, the kit is an indispensable guide to a growing field with few resources at its disposal. Read a review here, or order today!

Final Report of the Task Force on Modernizing Income Security for Working Age Adults (MISWAA)
MISWAA, comprised of representatives from multiple sectors, was created to address a dire need for income security reform in Ontario and Canada at large. In May, 2006, they released their final report. Read it here, or check out a PowerPoint presentation of the findings here.

Introducing the Paths to Financial Vibrancy Project
The new funding environment has not been kind to the CBT sector; however, through developing new leadership skills, building partnerships and implementing new strategies, some organizations have been able to thrive. The Paths to Financial Vibrancy Project seeks to consolidate and share the learnings of financially vibrant organizations, so that the CBT sector as a whole can persevere despite funding complications. View the official project brief here (PDF format).

Forward Newsletter Online
The ONESTEP Forward Newsletter contains the latest information to keep you informed about the community-based training sector in Ontario. Published 4 times each year, highlights and selected articles from back issues can be read right on our website. [Members can read full-text versions in the Member Zone.]

Subscribe to the ONESTEP-News Email Bulletin
Stay informed about community-based training! Our News Bulletin contains news items, announcements, and resources of interest to the community-based training (CBT) sector. Distributed on a monthly basis, the Bulletin is open to anyone interested in CBT issues.

What's New Archive
Browse through past What's New items.

Updated July, 2006.