Western Standard - March 17, 2023


Smith says she is proud of increasing immigration to Alberta

Topics
skilled labor shortage
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Episode Stats


Length

6 minutes

Words per minute

191.8

Word count

1,260

Sentence count

79

Harmful content

Hate speech

2

sentences flagged


Summary

Summaries generated with gmurro/bart-large-finetuned-filtered-spotify-podcast-summ .

Learn English with Alberta s Minister of Trade and Immigration and Multiculturalism, Shep Chantal Chaudhuri, who delivers a keynote address on the need for skilled newcomers in Alberta's labour shortage. She talks about the importance of recognizing and supporting skilled newcomers, and the benefits they can bring to our province.

Transcript

Transcript generated with Whisper (turbo).
Hate speech classifications generated with facebook/roberta-hate-speech-dynabench-r4-target .
Topics generated with Qwen2.5-3B-Instruct.
00:00:00.000 I have no doubt that the journey was difficult, but your determination for better lives for
00:00:04.240 you and your families knows no bounds.
00:00:06.800 And while you may be new to our province, your willingness to take risks and your love
00:00:10.780 of the freedom our province offers makes you as Albertan as anyone.
00:00:15.640 All Albertans are lucky you chose to make your home here.
00:00:18.680 You all bring with you tremendous benefits to our province, critical skills, entrepreneurial
00:00:23.500 vigor and a strong work ethic and the dynamic energy of your own cultures.
00:00:28.360 But these are more than nice to have.
00:00:31.100 Attracting the best and brightest is crucial to Alberta's success and our future.
00:00:34.940 We need newcomers like you to help grow our workforce and create jobs.
00:00:39.460 And that's why we need to ensure Alberta offers the supports newcomers need.
00:00:43.720 When newcomers choose to build a future in our province, we need to show you that you are 1.00
00:00:47.500 valued.
00:00:48.500 We need to show you that your hard work and dedication will be rewarded and that there
00:00:52.300 is space for your dreams and ambitions here.
00:00:55.060 You should have no doubt that your move to Alberta has been worth the struggle and that
00:00:59.720 this will be the beginning of something great.
00:01:03.040 It is a matter of fairness, but it's also a matter of recognizing the incredible value
00:01:07.420 that new Albertans like you bring to our province.
00:01:10.640 In many cases, we know that you bring advanced professional training and years of experience
00:01:14.560 in fields where Alberta has severe shortages.
00:01:17.260 To leave newcomers unemployed or stuck in jobs for which you are overqualified is a huge burden
00:01:23.020 for you and for your families.
00:01:25.260 But also for Albertans who need more nurses and vets and skilled tradespeople.
00:01:30.180 Together with professional associations, advocacy groups, and newcomers like you, government
00:01:34.960 is working to find efficiencies for everyone's benefit.
00:01:38.440 It's great to say that progress is happening.
00:01:40.980 And it is.
00:01:42.140 I know I should tell you I've been lobbying on this issue since 2006.
00:01:45.020 I was once the head of the Canadian Federation of Independent Business and this was my number
00:01:50.420 one lobbying file.
00:01:51.860 How do we recognize foreign credentials?
00:01:53.920 How do we make sure that we've got a pathway for more people to come here through our provincial
00:01:58.140 nominee program?
00:01:59.720 And I'm just so pleased to see that our Minister of Trade and Immigration and Multiculturalism,
00:02:06.580 we got an increase in our number of provincial nominees.
00:02:08.500 It was announced just a few weeks ago, 6,500 up to 10,000 is going to keep on increasing.
00:02:14.200 And we're going to make sure that we have new streams so that the areas that you identify
00:02:18.960 are going to be the ones that we're able to attract newcomers in as well leveraging all
00:02:23.600 of the incredible community support that we already have.
00:02:26.380 Because I was speaking with somebody just in the lineup who's been here just since November
00:02:31.160 and I asked, how's it going for you?
00:02:32.780 And he said, you know what?
00:02:33.780 I've got a lot of support in my community and that is what it's all about.
00:02:37.500 It's making sure that we can reach out to our friends and family from around the world,
00:02:41.800 recognize their credentials, get them here in the jobs and skills that they have, and
00:02:45.560 also in the jobs and skills that we need.
00:02:47.100 So we are making progress on this, I'll tell you a little bit more.
00:02:49.560 The Fair Registration Practices Act and the Fairness for Newcomers Office now require
00:02:53.480 that regulated professions and trade registries handle applications clearly and objectively.
00:02:59.680 These bodies must reach at least a temporary decision within six months of receiving
00:03:04.240 all necessary information.
00:03:06.280 And the Fairness for Newcomers Office works constantly with regulators to find improvements
00:03:10.580 so that skilled newcomers can get back to doing what they do best.
00:03:14.340 Still, we know that there's more that we need to do.
00:03:17.840 Shortages of essential workers are taking a toll on Albertan's quality of life.
00:03:21.380 This is especially true in the healthcare sector, where just about every area needs more qualified
00:03:27.160 staff.
00:03:28.160 Having more newcomers is key to strengthening the whole system.
00:03:31.720 And that's why we need to continue finding additional pathways to success through things
00:03:36.220 like professional licensing, skills upgrading, and other support programs.
00:03:40.840 We need to tear down any existing barriers that stand in the way of meaningful employment
00:03:45.880 and advancement.
00:03:47.260 I should just mention on this as well, because I'll be meeting with the Philippines Consul General
00:03:51.100 a little bit later today.
00:03:52.100 We signed an MOU on LPNs, licensed practical nurses.
00:03:55.400 And we have a bridging program so that we can recruit people from the Philippines.
00:03:59.400 And if they're short on some of their skills that they need to be able to work in our system,
00:04:03.040 we have a $15,000 grant to be able to bring them up to the level where they can start working.
00:04:09.420 So just so you know, if you've got more ideas like that, you've got lots of ministers in
00:04:14.440 the room, and we're ready to act on them.
00:04:15.920 I just want to let you know that we do see some progress, but we do indeed have more work to do.
00:04:21.320 Taking these steps is not only right and just, it's a burning necessity.
00:04:26.100 In the midst of a skilled labor shortage, we need to work together to do all that we can
00:04:30.120 to ensure all Albertans are able to work to their full potential.
00:04:33.720 That's why I'm asking for your help.
00:04:35.920 Whether you're a newcomer or you serve our newcomer population, whether you're in the private sector,
00:04:41.660 whether you're at a regulatory body, government needs the benefit of your experiences.
00:04:45.920 You live with the gaps in the system.
00:04:48.240 You see the consequences every day, the frustrations and despair and the crushed hopes.
00:04:53.840 And many of you have spent considerable time thinking about the fixes.
00:04:57.520 Government needs to know how and where we can do better.
00:05:01.120 Effective legislation rests on a foundation of reliable information.
00:05:05.120 And we are looking to you for that.
00:05:07.120 So thank you to everyone for taking part in the summit.
00:05:09.600 Thank you for your advice.
00:05:10.480 Thank you for your good judgment.
00:05:11.760 But most of all, thank you for choosing Alberta.
00:05:16.080 We are honored to be part of your community and your new life.
00:05:20.080 And one just more special thanks to generous organizations who do so much to help newcomers
00:05:29.760 adjust.
00:05:30.080 It might be ESL classes.
00:05:31.760 It might be writing resumes.
00:05:33.040 It might be connecting families with affordable housing.
00:05:35.600 You move mountains to ensure newcomers can manage the transition no matter how difficult it may be.
00:05:41.040 Your insights will shape the next wave of solutions that make newcomers' lives better.
00:05:45.840 We're counting on it.
00:05:46.880 And so are the people around the world.
00:05:48.560 People with ambitions searching for a place to make them real.
00:05:52.560 And that's who Albertans are.
00:05:54.880 It's who we are now.
00:05:55.840 And it's who we will be forever.
00:05:57.360 The future of our province depends on fairness for newcomers, which we believe is a tremendous
00:06:02.880 advantage.
00:06:03.680 Alberta leads the country in growth.
00:06:05.440 And we have many freedoms denied to so many elsewhere on earth.
00:06:09.200 Talented and driven people are lining up to live here, dreaming of big things.
00:06:13.440 Now it's up to us to figure out how to get more newcomers through the door and into the economy 1.00
00:06:17.920 quickly and efficiently while maintaining our high professional standards.
00:06:21.840 And I look forward to working with all of you on the answers to growing and succeeding together.
00:06:28.240 Thank you so much for being here today.