January 11, 2016

The Honourable Kathleen Wynne
Premier of °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû
Room 281, Main Legislative Building
Queen’s Park
Toronto, °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû
M7A 1A1

Dear Premier:

It gives me great pleasure to report substantial progress on the key priorities outlined in your September 2014 mandate letter to me. Since then, the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade has worked hard to attract a skilled workforce and build a stronger economy, to help newcomers and their families achieve success, and to secure expanded international trade opportunities for the benefit of all Ontarians. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû has responded to the refugee crisis, and is helping more refugees settle in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, including providing $2 million in relief assistance and $8.5 million in funding to help them resettle. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû remains the top destination for newcomers to Canada, and newcomers continue to fully participate in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s diverse and inclusive society.

Ensuring Newcomers Prosper in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû

  • The °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigration Act was unanimously passed by the legislature on May 28, 2015, making °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû the first province outside Québec to have immigration legislation.

Working with the Federal Government to Maximize the Economic Benefits of Immigration

  • To help °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû build a skilled workforce, the °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigrant Nominee Program can now nominate up to 5,200 highly skilled newcomers for permanent residence annually. After intensive negotiations with the federal government, our allocation was increased from 2,500 last year.
  • The target of 2,700 allocated to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû under the new federal Express Entry system is at risk because of difficulties with the federal government’s software, but we anticipate that our full allocation will be met in 2016.
  • Two new categories designed to attract economic immigrants (Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Workers) were launched through the federal government’s Express Entry system. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû is the first jurisdiction to launch a category dedicated to French-speaking prospective immigrants.
  • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû has invested $26.5 million in 2015-16 in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Bridge Training Programs to help highly skilled newcomers, and the province has reduced financial barriers through a renewed $5 million investment in the °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Bridging Participant Assistance Program.
  • The ministry continues to lead °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s participation in the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications to ensure that immigrants have the opportunity to fully utilize their skills within °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s labour market as quickly as possible.

Building Strong, Inclusive and Diverse Communities

  • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû continued to promote, celebrate and support the province’s diversity as a magnet for building a highly skilled workforce and a fair society. We are also coordinating cross-government efforts to celebrate °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû 150, our sesquicentennial in 2017.
  • The province continued to improve settlement and integration services for newcomers. Over the next three years, °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû will invest $182 million in the Adult Non-Credit Language Training Program and over $31 million in the Newcomer Settlement Program.
  • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû has responded to the refugee crisis with $8.5 million to increase the number of refugees settling in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, and committed a further $2 million for immediate Syrian relief efforts. These funds have started to flow to settlement agencies.
  • An Ad Hoc Minister’s Committee was struck to better manage and co-ordinate °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s response to the refugee crisis, and two meetings of Federal, Provincial and Territorial Ministers responsible for Immigration were held to strengthen collaboration and ensure the coordination of resources.
  • The ministry assembled a group of 11 experts to recommend approaches to boost Francophone immigration to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû and achieve our five per cent target.

Supporting Volunteers

  • As part of the Pan/Parapan Am Games Legacy, we developed a Volunteer Certificate Program for use in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû — over 23,000 Pan Am volunteers are the first to receive these certificates.
  • We launched SPARK °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû, the cornerstone of our Volunteer Action Plan. SPARK °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû is an online recruiting resource that will modernize volunteering by connecting volunteers with opportunities available from organizations around the province.

Maximizing °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s Global Trade Opportunities

  • We developed and launched two new °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigrant Nominee Program business streams (Corporate and Entrepreneur) to attract foreign investment, talent and trade opportunities.
  • We continue to implement the Going Global Trade Strategy, with the following results:
    • In 2014-15, the International Trade Branch helped 1,700 new and experienced exporters to prepare for international markets and brought 625 companies on international missions to foreign markets. These companies anticipate $680 million in sales, directly attributed to these missions.
    • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s International Trade and Investment Offices helped more than 575 companies access export markets, facilitated 40 trade transactions totalling more than $30 million and contributed to 15 won investment deals. A new International Trade and Investment Office in Hong Kong was announced.
    • More than 75 staff-led trade missions are scheduled in 2015-16 in addition to Ministers’ and Premier’s Missions. The Premier’s two Business Missions to China generated $3.5 billion in business activity and could create up to 3,500 jobs in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.
    • In addition to the Premier’s Missions to China, France and the USA, MCIIT supported business and trade missions to China, the UK, Germany, USA, Mexico, Japan, South Korea, France, Turkey, Jordan and India for ministers and ministries across government.
    • An investment of $3 million in the Export Market Access Program served 423 companies, generated $89 million in export sales and created 262 jobs.
    • The 2015 brought together over 300 °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû businesses and 10 qualified buyers to facilitate new trade connections for small- and medium-sized enterprises in priority European markets.
    • The 2015 Toronto Global Forum, Pan American Edition, brought together international buyers from across the Americas. There were 220 individual B2B meetings between the buyers and our °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû companies, and over 50 site visits were conducted.
    • A ministerial working group has been established and two full meetings of the working groups have been held to date to ensure strong collaboration and information sharing among ministries to maximize international trade and foreign investment. Bilateral meetings between MCIIT have been held with the Ministries of Energy, Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs, Northern Development and Mines, and Natural Resources and Forestry.

Premier, these are highlights from a busy and productive time spent implementing the priorities you assigned to the Ministry of Citizenship, Immigration and International Trade. My ministry will continue to deliver quality public services and build opportunity and a strong future for all Ontarians.

Sincerely,

Michael Chan signature

Michael Chan
Minister

Results achieved

Mandate Letter Commitment Progress to Date
Work to attract a skilled workforce and build a stronger economy, help newcomers and their families achieve success, and secure international trade and investment opportunities for the benefit of all Ontarians.
  • The °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigrant Nominee Program (OINP) was redesigned to attract foreign business, entrepreneurs and select skilled individuals.
  • Corporate and Entrepreneur Streams were announced in late 2015. Two other streams, launched in June 2015, work with the Federal Express Entry system.
  • The 2015 Minister’s Employers Tables were launched, and five regional roundtables will be completed by mid-January 2016. The focus is tapping into global markets and integrating global skills to improve competitiveness.
Ensure that newcomers are able to participate fully in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s inclusive and diverse society and will continue to work with the federal government to maximize the economic benefits of immigration to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû. Your goal is to ensure that °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû remains the top destination for newcomers to Canada.
  • Investing $61.8 million in language training through the Adult Non-Credit ESL/FSL program to help learners acquire official language skills and continuing to collaborate with the federal government to improve service coordination and reduce overlap.
Seeking to re-introduce the °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigration Act early in your mandate. The act would enshrine our government’s vision for immigration — which recognizes the important role immigrants play in growing the economy — and the importance of family and humanitarian commitments.
  • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s first-ever Immigration Act was unanimously supported by all parties during Third Reading, and received Royal Assent on May 28, 2015.
  • MCIIT is currently consulting with stakeholders to develop the regulations. Draft regulations were posted on the Regulatory Registry on October 9 and December 2, 2015.
Continuing to implement °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s Immigration Strategy, I ask that you release the first Immigration Strategy Progress Report as soon as possible and annually going forward.
  • Released first and second progress reports on the immigration strategy.
Encouraging the federal government to be a willing partner in supporting °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s goals for immigration. I ask that you continue to engage the federal government to obtain more input on the process of immigration to °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.
  • Working with federal counterparts on strategies to improve service coordination.
Pursuing an expansion of the Provincial Nominee Program base allocations. This expansion would increase °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s direct role in immigrant selection and maximize our province’s ability to respond to its unique economic and labour market needs. As part of these efforts, you will, subject to federal and provincial privacy laws, work to improve the Provincial Nominee Program by making it more transparent and accountable — and by enabling it to support a greater number of annual nominees.
  • Our 2015 allocation was increased to 5,200.
  • We launched two new streams for skilled foreign nationals using the federal Express Entry system – Human Capital Priorities and French-Speaking Skilled Worker streams.
  • Working with the federal government to identify opportunities to expand the °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigrant Nominee Program’s base allocation and maintain Provincial Nominee Program levels.
  • Implemented changes for increased transparency and accountability – clearer program guidelines, better staff training and formalized information-sharing arrangements.
Continuing to improve our government’s bridge training programs so that immigrants with professional credentials can work in their field as quickly as possible. You will work with the ministers of Education and of Training, Colleges and Universities to ensure that people receiving bridge training, language instruction and other forms of adult education can make the transition from adult education to the integrated employment and training system.
  • Investing $26.4 million in 2015-16 including $5.2 million in federal funding (ends this fiscal year) in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Bridge Training Programs (OBTP) to help highly skilled newcomers get licensed/find work.
  • Reducing financial barriers through a renewed Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities' investment of $5 million in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Bridge Participant Assistance Program (OBPAP) for 2015-16.
  • Providing ongoing support to ETSI (Employment, Training and Services Integration)-related and adult education initiatives. Evaluating the OBTP to inform future program improvements.
Calling on the federal government to work with provincial governments, regulatory bodies and other applicable entities to simplify and streamline the foreign credential recognition process. Your goal is to fortify efforts and initiatives that enable new Canadians trained elsewhere to have their international training recognized so they can work in their field as quickly as possible.
  • Continue to lead °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s participation in the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications to ensure that immigrants have the opportunity to fully utilize their skills within the °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû labour market, as quickly as possible.
  • This includes initiatives related to pre-arrival information and assessment, as well as workplace participation.
Striving to build strong, inclusive and diverse communities. °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû is a province that celebrates the benefits of being the new home of people from many cultures from around the world.
  • Launching 17 new municipal immigration initiatives in 2015-2016 designed to help municipalities across °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû attract, integrate and retain newcomers.
  • Investing $9 million in 2015-16 in the Newcomer Settlement Program to help newcomers settle and integrate.
  • An additional $3.5 million will be invested over the next three years to support at-risk newcomer youth.
  • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû is also investing $8.5 million over 2.5 years to welcome, settle and integrate refugees.
Collaborating with the Minister Responsible for Francophone Affairs to make progress on achieving our five per cent Francophone immigration target. Your goal is to support the growth of a strong Franco-Ontarian community.
  • In consultation with the Office of Francophone Affairs and the French Language Services Commissioner, established a Group of Experts on Francophone Immigration in June 2015, whose report on approaches to meet five per cent target is expected in spring 2016.
  • °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Immigration Act (2015) recognizes the importance of Franco-Ontarian communities regarding immigration.
Working with the federal government to increase Francophone immigration — and to enhance pre-arrival and settlement supports for them.
  • The Group of Experts on Francophone Immigration includes representatives from Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC).
  • MCIIT is the Provincial/Territorial representative on the IRCC-Francophone Minority Community Committee and co-chairs, with the IRCC, a working group studying how to increase Francophone immigration through the Express Entry federal immigration system.
Examining opportunities to develop and implement °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s first Volunteerism Strategy, which would provide an ongoing framework for our government’s support for volunteers. The framework should complement the Pan Am Games initiative and emphasize the importance of youth civic engagement and training.
  • Implementing activities to deliver on °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s first Volunteer Action Plan to strengthen °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s volunteer base and promote the value of volunteering.
  • Building on the legacy of the °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Volunteer Legacy initiatives of the 2015 Pan Am and Parapan Am Games to leverage the momentum of the 2015 Games to strengthen voluntarism in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.
  • Engaging with key stakeholders to provide guidance for engaging volunteers in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s Refugee Resettlement Plan.
Developing a strategy that leverages °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s diversity to ensure better international trade and investment opportunities.
  • Developing a Global Connections Strategy to leverage °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s diversity to ensure better international trade and investment opportunities.
  • MCIIT will be hosting a series of roundtables to consult with various stakeholders, as part of the process to develop and implement initiatives to support this strategy.
  • A Thought Leaders Roundtable was held in October 2015.
Working with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure to establish a ministerial working group. You and the minister will co-chair the group, which will also include the ministers of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs; Education; Energy; Health and Long-Term Care; Northern Development and Mines; Research and Innovation; Training, Colleges and Universities; Tourism, Culture and Sport and other ministers, as appropriate. The committee’s objective is to ensure strong collaboration and information-sharing — and maximize international trade and foreign investment opportunities.
  • Established ministerial working group, two meetings held to date. Working in collaboration on international trade and investment opportunities.
Continuing to implement the Going Global Trade Strategy. The strategy will advance °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s international trade interests and ensure that °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû benefits from global investment and trade opportunities.
  • Assisted 1,700 new and experienced °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû exporters, achieved 90 per cent client satisfaction rating in export development programs, led 70 trade missions to the Americas, Europe, the Middle East and Asia Pacific, and secured $680 million in potential new business opportunities.
Working to ensure that the Provincial Nominee Program is better recognized as an important economic tool to attract foreign investment, entrepreneurs, professionals and trade opportunities.
  • Corporate and Entrepreneur streams were announced in late 2015 to attract foreign business and entrepreneurs.
  • In June 2015, the Human Capital Priorities Stream and the French-Speaking Skilled Worker Stream were launched to work with the federal Express Entry system.
  • These streams will select high-skilled individuals who can thrive in the labour market.
Expanding the reach of °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s exports — particularly to fast-growing emerging markets — in partnership with the Minister of Economic Development, Employment and Infrastructure. You will jointly pursue initiatives that expand the opportunity for °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû firms to connect with foreign buyers and investors, showcase innovative goods and services, and find new markets. To this end, the 2015 Pan/Parapan American Games offer you an opportunity to establish productive relationships between °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s industries and business delegations from the 41 member nations of the Pan American Sports Organization.
  • Toronto Global Forum Pan American Edition successfully brought together over 2,600 delegates focused on trade and investment opportunities.
  • Incoming Buyers Program enabled 20 foreign buyers interested in sourcing from 180 °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû Small to Medium Enterprises.
  • Successfully hosted Global Export Forum focused on Europe with 270 attendees, 10 buyers and 110 business meetings.
Expanding international representation and strengthening relationships with °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s major trading partners. I ask that you continue to engage °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s trading partners and explore opportunities for new and expanded trade agreements.
  • Expanded International Investment and Trade offices, opening in Chongqing, China and expanding in Germany, bringing the total number of offices to 13.
  • International Trade Development representatives assisted 380 °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû exporters and facilitated 40 export contacts.
  • MCIIT works closely with ministry partners who lead °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s trade policy and role in trade agreement negotiations.
Building on the existing linkages created by °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû’s and Canada’s International Marketing Centres around the world. You will use those linkages to facilitate new capital investments by foreign-based companies in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû. Your goal is to help create jobs and opportunities for our highly skilled and diversified population.
  • Assisted more than 575 companies to access export markets, facilitating 38 trade transactions totalling more than $32 million in projected sales.
  • Contributed to 15 investment deals, representing 170 jobs and $65 million invested in °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû.
Continuing to develop °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû as a destination for investment and trade by reaching out to our global partners. Starting with the Premier’s planned trade mission to China in the fall of 2014, you will explore and pursue similar opportunities for the province to lead trade missions to other countries. I ask that you focus on emerging markets and industries — and at the same time include our existing trading partners and industries.
  • The Premier led a successful mission to China with Minister Chan in 2014, resulting in almost $1 billion in potential new investments and signed commercial, and research and development partnership agreements worth over $295 million.
  • Minister Chan accompanied the Premier on her 2015 mission, during which °ÄÃÅÓÀÀû delegates signed more than 100 agreements and Memoranda of Understanding, with an estimated total value of $2.5 billion.
  • Minister Chan led a successful mission to Mexico in May 2015 and to China with Minister Leal in April 2015 with a delegation of companies, as well as successful delegations to the United Kingdom, Chicago and Germany.
  • Upcoming Premier-led missions include India and Israel in 2016.