Holland College in Prince Edward Island is in discussions with the provincial government as the latter begins to develop a strategy to increase immigration levels in response to an impending skills shortage. Premiers in Atlantic Canada have provided funding to allow the college and institute system to take on regional initiatives. Holland College is collaborating with four other Atlantic institutions to review current programs and will be seeking HRSDC funding to conduct a gap analysis on the human resource requirements for next five years, in particular for the trades and health sectors.
As indicated previously, 18 colleges and institutes currently have contracts with CIC to deliver the LINC program. Colleges and institutes have received referrals from HRSDC for EI funded students, and Langara College is delivering the EASE Program, a self-employment assistance program. The EASE Program puts individuals through a small business training regime, develops a business plan and launches a business with the assistance of mentors. It is delivered off campus in a needy area of Vancouver and targets minorities and new Canadians.
Colleges and institutes provide training for employees in the private and public sectors, through contract training and deliver projects in collaboration with the private sector.
For example, Bow Valley College has contracts with various employers in Calgary to provide upgrading and training for immigrant employees. Langara College has partnered with a private company, BC Resident Aid Incorporated, to deliver its Resident Care Aid program.
Douglas College has partnered with the Hospital Employees Union in BC to provide academic upgrading for 60 immigrants, working in the health care field, who required ESL upgrading to enter the Registered Nursing and Licensed Practical Nursing programs.
George Brown College has established partnerships and is collaborating with non-governmental organizations such as the Maytree Foundation and ACTEW (A Commitment to Training and Employment for Women), to establish the Employment Counseling Program as well as bridging programs for Computer Programs and the CARE Project for foreign trained nurses.
Some colleges and institutes are partnering with community centres and libraries to deliver more informal or evening ESL classes. They are also partnering with ethno-cultural organizations to facilitate the integration of immigrant students. For example VCC has partnerships with community centres and libraries for the delivery of its ESL programs on a project-by-project basis in collaboration with immigrant service organizations.