Press release
Public consultation on immigration planning:
The Board of Trade to participate in this initiative essential to our prosperity
Montréal, April 15, 2011 – The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal will be participating in the public consultation on long-term immigration planning for 2012 through 2015, which was announced yesterday by the Minister of Immigration and Cultural Communities, Ms. Kathleen Weil. Through its involvement in this initiative, the Board of Trade is underlining the importance it places on realistic, balanced and coherent immigration planning based on actual needs and capacity for professional integration.
“Immigration is a priority issue for the development of Quebec and Montréal,” emphasized Board of Trade President and CEO, Michel Leblanc. “In order to create wealth, we must attract and develop international talent. Immigration helps our society maintain diversity and creativity. That is why the Board of Trade has advocated increasing the number of immigrants for some time now. Moreover, it has always supported the rapid and efficient integration of immigrants into the labour market as a key to meeting the growing need of companies for manpower and to sustaining Montréal’s economy.
“In addition to participating in the public consultation exercise, the Board of Trade is actively working on the professional integration of immigrants through its Interconnection and French in the Workplace programs,” concluded Mr. Leblanc.
Initiated in partnership with Emploi-Québec, the Interconnection program is aimed at promoting privileged contact (networking) between Montreal companies and qualified new arrivals.
(http://www.btmm.qc.ca/en/boardoftrade-Getting_involved-Interconnection)
For its part, the purpose of the French in the Workplace program is to offer French courses on the job that are adapted to specific activity sectors and to the needs of participating companies.
(http://www.btmm.qc.ca/en/boardoftrade-Getting_involved-French_at_work)
Minister Weil will also be taking part in the Board of Trade’s business breakfast conference to be held this coming April 19, where she will be discussing the importance of immigration planning in support of Quebec’s development. More information about this event is available online at http://www.btmm.qc.ca/en/calendar-kathleen_weil_conference
The Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal has some 7,000 members. Its primary mission is to represent the interests of the business community of Greater Montreal and to provide individuals, merchants, and businesses of all sizes with a variety of specialized services to help them achieve their full potential in terms of innovation, productivity and competitiveness. The Board of Trade is Quebec’s leading private economic development organization.
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Source:
Sylvie Paquette
Advisor, Media Relations
Board of Trade of Metropolitan Montreal
Tel.: 514 871-4000, ext. 4015
sylvie.paquette@ccmm.qc.ca