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Ottawa, May 10, 2012 — The Government of Canada is expanding its internship program for newcomers to include private sector companies, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.
CGI Group Inc., a leading provider of information technology and business process services, and CIBC, a leading Canadian-based financial institution, will partner with CIC to hire newcomers through the Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program.
Delivered in partnership with regional immigrant serving organizations and hiring departments and agencies, the FIN Program is a Citizenship and Immigration-led initiative that offers newcomers to Canada the opportunity to gain valuable temporary work experience.
“Lack of Canadian work experience can prevent many newcomers from successfully integrating into the labour market,” said Minister Kenney. “This program is an excellent example of the federal government’s leadership role in helping immigrants enter the Canadian workforce.”
“We hope these new partnerships serve as a model for other private sector companies who are eager to tap into the strong talent pool of newcomers this program provides,” he added.
Through the FIN Program, CIC will provide CGI and CIBC access to newcomers who have been screened for employment readiness to fill temporary and permanent positions in their companies.
“As a global company, we recognize the richness that the diversity of professionals from the FIN program can bring to the company and our clients,” said Alain Brisson, Senior Vice-President, National Capital Region, CGI. “CGI gives its professionals the freedom to innovate, to be entrepreneurial, to achieve their full potential and to chart their own career.”
“At CIBC our workforce needs to continue to mirror the diversity we see within our communities, and we want to recruit the best people,” said Sharon Wingfelder, Vice-President, Diversity and Resourcing. “CIBC is proud to partner with the Federal Internship for Newcomers Program to help immigrants establish a strong new start.”
The announcement was made at the 2012 FIN graduation ceremony in Ottawa where more than 60 newcomers celebrated the end of their eight-month internship with federal government organizations.
Since September 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada has provided work placements for more than 130 newcomers in 20 federal departments and agencies. For more information on FIN, visit the website.
Photo of Minister Kenney will be available later today.
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For further information (media only), please contact:
Ana Curic
Minister’s Office
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-954-1064
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
613-952-1650
CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca
Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada’s economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.
