WE LIP INFORMATION SHARING
Learn more about the Windsor Essex Local Immigration Partnership (WE LIP):
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In this newsletter, you will find:
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Information sharing on behalf of WE LIP member, the City of Windsor
ETS Live Workshop: Apprenticeships - July 20
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Information sharing on behalf of Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media, and the Creative Arts
THE BUSINESS OF FILMMAKING: FREE LIVE VIRTUAL SUMMER SERIES
The Windsor Centre for Film, Digital Media, and the Creative Arts is running a free (virtual) summer workshop series for young folks interested in various media-related jobs with local speakers.
See the flyer for details and click below to register!
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Information sharing on behalf of Skills Ontario
Virtual Trades & Tech Discovery Day for New Canadians
Join Skills Ontario and our Discovery Day event partners to learn about the incredible career opportunities that exist in skilled trades and technologies. Hear from industry, educational and community service provider experts about careers, pathways and support programs for new comers to Ontario.
This event is FREE to attend, requires no travel and can be accessed on any PC or mobile device with an internet connection!
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Information sharing on behalf of IRCC
New open work permit available for recent permanent residency applicants
July 15, 2021—Ottawa—The Honourable Marco E. L. Mendicino, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship announced today that, beginning July 26, 2021, individuals who have applied for the recently opened pathway to permanent residence will be eligible for an open work permit while awaiting the results of their application.
The pathway to permanent residence was opened to international students who graduated from a Canadian institution, health care workers and those in other designated essential occupations on May 6, 2021.
Read more
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Nouveau permis de travail ouvert offert aux demandeurs au titre de la voie d'accès de la résidence temporaire à la résidence permanente
Le 15 juillet 2020 – Ottawa – L’honorable Marco E. L. Mendicino, ministre de l’Immigration, des Réfugiés et de la Citoyenneté, a annoncé aujourd’hui qu’à compter du 26 juillet, les personnes qui ont présenté une demande au titre de la nouvelle voie d’accès à la résidence permanente seront admissibles à un nouveau permis de travail ouvert en attendant les résultats de leur demande.
La voie d’accès à la résidence permanente a été élargie aux étrangers diplômés d’un établissement canadien, aux travailleurs de la santé et aux personnes exerçant d’autres professions essentielles désignées le 6 mai 2021.
Lisez plus
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Ontario Helping Workers Start New Careers
News Release
Financial aid supports will help people train for new and better jobs
July 13, 2021
Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
WINDSOR — The Ontario government is increasing financial supports available and simplifying the application process for individuals applying to the Second Career program. As the province’s economy begins to reopen, these changes will make it easier for laid-off and unemployed workers to pursue training and start new and better careers.
Details were shared today by Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development, who was joined by Drew Dilkens, Mayor of Windsor.
“Increasing support for laid-off and unemployed workers is key to our mission of spreading opportunity more fairly and widely,” said Minister McNaughton. “No worker will be left behind in our recovery. Through improvements like these, our single focus is on giving hardworking men and women the tools they need to start a good job and make a better living for themselves and their families.”
As of today, laid-off and unemployed workers will experience a faster Second Career application process. They will no longer need to provide burdensome amounts of documentation to get funding. The program is increasing weekly basic living supports for rent, mortgage and other expenses up to $500 a week. Additionally, transportation and child care supports are being enhanced to better reflect the costs that people currently face.
These new changes follow improvements the government made to this program in December 2020. In the first five months of 2021, 2,092 workers started training through Second Career, an increase of 109 per cent in comparison to the same period last year.
Second Career is one of many training programs that the Employment Ontario network of employment service providers is offering online and at about 700 locations across the province. These services are free for job seekers, workers and employers and help boost training, employment and economic prosperity in Ontario.
Quick Facts
- Second Career funding helps laid-off, unemployed workers pay for the tuition of training programs of 52 weeks duration or less, including eligible university and college courses, micro-credential programs and other vocational training programs.
- The maximum funding support that a Second Career client can receive to help pay for their education and living expenses is $28,000.
- The 2021-22 budget for the Second Career program is $82.4 million.
- Since its launch in 2008, the Second Career program has helped more than 117,000 people train for new careers and land new jobs.
- In May 2021, employment in Ontario was still 4.1 per cent below the pre-COVID 19 level of February 2020.
- As part of the 2021 Budget, Ontario continues to support workers hardest hit by the COVID-19 pandemic by investing an additional $614.3 million during 2020-21 and 2021-22 to provide targeted employment and training supports.
Quotes
"The Second Career program has helped hundreds of individuals in Windsor get on a pathway to prosperity: re-training and mentorship programs that support individuals as they transition into exciting new jobs. As the City of Windsor works to implement our economic development and diversification plan – Windsor Works – today’s changes to the Second Career program are going to help local workers make the leap to a new career. As we build back from the pandemic, reforms like these are exactly what’s needed."
- Drew Dilkens
Mayor – City of Windsor
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Ontario Keeping Workers Safe As Province Reopens
News Release
Free health and safety training now available for small businesses
July 15, 2021
Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development
WATERLOO — The Ontario government is investing $10.5 million to provide up to 60,000 small businesses across the province with free health and safety training over the next three years. The new Small Business Health and Safety Training Program will improve health and safety awareness to help prevent illnesses and injures by training health and safety representatives of small businesses on how to keep workers safe in the retail, construction, health care, accommodation and food services, and other sectors. Businesses will also be reimbursed for the time the representatives are away from work.
“As Ontario reopens, keeping workers safe will continue to be our top priority,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Training and Skills Development. “Small businesses have less resources to learn about health and safety than other businesses and we know they are facing a lot of financial pressures as a result of this pandemic. Our government is making sure they have the guidance and support they need.”
Beginning today, Ontario’s new Small Business Health and Safety Training Program will cover the course registration costs for an employee who is appointed by their colleagues as a health and safety representative for their workplace. The program will also reimburse small businesses $150 towards the representative’s training time. All small businesses that have six to 19 employees are required to have a health and safety representative and they can apply for this program.
“Protecting our economy starts with protecting our small businesses and the people who run them and foster their growth,” said Nina Tangri, Associate Minister of Small Business and Red Tape Reduction. “By investing in health and safety training, we’re making our small businesses safer places for hardworking families to seize the opportunities they need to get ahead.”
The eLearning training course is offered through Workplace Safety and Prevention Services, a Health and Safety Association. The free training takes about six to eight hours for most people to complete, and covers a range of topics, including:
- occupational health and safety laws
- rights, duties and responsibilities of workplace parties
- duties and responsibilities of the health and safety representative under the Occupational Health and Safety Act
- recognition, assessment, control and evaluation of common workplace hazards
- To register for the free training, eligible small businesses must access the course through Workplace Safety and Prevention Services’ website. Once training is complete, small business applicants should retain a copy of the certificate of completion as proof for their refund of the $25 registration fee and the $150 toward the cost of worker training time.
- Small businesses can apply for reimbursement through the Small Business Health and Safety Training Program starting in Fall 2021. More details will be available soon on Workplace Safety and Prevention Services’ website.
- Selected by workers, a health and safety representative’s duties include inspecting the workplace on a regular basis, identifying possible hazards, making recommendations for improvements and making health and safety resources available to those in the workplace.
- In Ontario, about 130,000 small businesses require a health and safety representative.
- Workplaces with 20 or more workers are required to have a joint health and safety committee.
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Ontario Government Supporting Agricultural and Horticultural Societies
News Release
Additional funding to offset lost revenue from cancelled fairs and exhibits
July 13, 2021
Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs
KINCARDINE – The Ontario government is providing $1.1 million in additional funding to offer continued support for the province’s agricultural and horticultural societies impacted by COVID-19.
The pandemic continues to place financial pressures on agricultural and horticultural societies across the province as many will be unable to hold their primary revenue-generating fairs and events again this year.
The government will provide up to $5,000 for each eligible agricultural society and up to $1,500 for each eligible horticultural society, equal to their 2019 grants. This is the latest investment from the provincial government to strengthen Ontario’s agri-food sector, ensuring sustainability of agriculture and fostering vibrant rural economies. This latest funding follows the January 2021 investment of $5 million to help support agricultural and horticultural societies impacted by cancelled events in 2020.
“We recognize Ontario’s agricultural and horticultural societies play a significant role in our communities throughout the province and the COVID-19 pandemic has continued to have a negative impact on their local initiatives,” said Lisa Thompson, Minister of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs. “That financial impact continues to hurt these local organizations and while Ontario is in the midst of a safe reopening plan, our government is acting now to safeguard future projects and events.”
The funding will enable agricultural and horticultural societies to offset membership losses and revenue so they can continue to meet their immediate financial needs and work towards planning future events within health and safety guidelines.
The current grant program requires agricultural and horticultural societies to operate their fairs, events and activities in order to qualify for funding. This automatic one-time payment replaces the 2021 grant so that agriculture and horticultural societies can receive the grant without having to hold their traditional fair or complete their community projects.
“The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies (OAAS) is very grateful that OMAFRA has continued to show their support and confidence in our Agricultural Societies,” said Beth Howell-Veraecke, President of the Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies. “Their fairs and other local events engage and involve their communities while promoting agriculture and food awareness. We appreciate that OMAFRA understands our challenges during this pandemic and recognizes Agricultural Societies' value to their communities."
"On behalf of the Ontario Horticultural Association, its 270 societies with 22,000 members, I would like to thank the Ontario Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs for your continued support announced today,” said Katharine Smyth, President of the Ontario Horticultural Association. “Horticultural societies have been greatly impacted by COVID-19 and this funding will go a long way to help us with our post pandemic recovery efforts.”
Agricultural and horticultural societies have played a central role in highlighting the importance of agriculture to life in Ontario for more than a century. Supporting this sector at this critical time will ensure that the long traditions and economic contributions of the societies will not be lost as the province recovers from the impacts of COVID-19.
Quick Facts
- The Ontario Association of Agricultural Societies is a provincial association representing more than 200 agricultural societies across the province
- The Ontario Horticultural Association is a volunteer charitable organization that encourages interest in gardening and related environmental issues representing 270 horticultural societies from across the province.
- Ontario is working to address the economic impacts that COVID-19 has posed to many of the organizations that make up the fabric of our communities, and is now delivering an estimated $13.5 billion in total support for people and job creators as part of Ontario's Action Plan.
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Ontario Updates Testing Requirements at Long-Term Care Homes
News Release
Change applies to asymptomatic, fully immunized staff, caregivers and visitors
July 14, 2021
Ministry of Long-Term Care
TORONTO — Ontario will be removing the requirement that fully-immunized and asymptomatic staff, caregivers and visitors be tested before entering long-term care homes. This update to testing requirements was made in consultation with Dr. Kieran Moore, the Chief Medical Officer of Health, and is based on the latest scientific evidence and expert advice. Updated guidance to retirement homes will also recommend exempting fully immunized people from routine testing. This change will coincide with Step Three of the province’s Roadmap to Reopen, coming into effect on July 16, 2021.
“Based on the latest scientific evidence and best medical advice, we are are removing the requirement of repeated surveillance testing from asymptomatic caregivers, visitors and staff who are fully immunized. Unvaccinated or partially vaccinated people will still need to be tested to ensure a greater level of protection for residents and staff,” said Rod Phillips, Minister of Long-Term Care. “These changes are made possible because of the incredible efforts of millions of Ontarians who rolled up their sleeves and got vaccinated.”
The province continues to actively monitor COVID-19 activity and variants of concern, particularly in this vulnerable sector. The health and safety of residents, staff and all others who attend homes, including their mental and emotional wellbeing, remains a top priority.
As previously announced, restrictions to be eased as part of Step Three of the Roadmap to Reopen include:
- Removing the limits on the number of visitors to homes
- Permitting buffet and family style dining
- Providing all residents the ability to go on absences
- Resumption of off-site excursions for residents
- Resumption of activities such as singing and dancing
“Our government’s strategy to protect retirement home residents, staff and their families through vaccinations is working,” said Raymond Cho, Minister for Seniors and Accessibility. “This means they will soon be able to resume many activities that they enjoyed before the pandemic.”
Quick Facts
- A person is considered fully immunized if they have received the full series of a COVID-19 vaccine or combination of COVID-19 vaccines approved by Health Canada (e.g., two doses of a two-dose vaccine series) and they received their final dose of the COVID-19 vaccine at least 14 days ago.
- People can prove they are fully immunized by showing the physical or emailed receipt that was provided to them at the time of vaccination. Vaccination receipts can also be downloaded or printed through the provincial portal.
- All long-term care homes are required to have a COVID-19 immunization policy for staff, students and volunteers. At a minimum, the policy must require people in those groups to provide proof of one of three things:
- Vaccination against COVID-19;
- A medical reason for not being vaccinated against COVID-19; or
- Completion of a COVID-19 vaccination educational program
- Infection prevention and control measures, including masking and active screening of all people entering homes, will continue to be required regardless of immunization status.
- Full details of precautions and requirements in effect at long-term care homes are available on the Ministry of Long-Term Care’s website and guidance document.
- As of July 12, 95 per cent of caregivers and 93 per cent of staff have received one dose.
- As of July 12, virtually all residents in long-term care homes have received two doses of vaccines, as have 91 per cent of caregivers and 87 per cent of staff.
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