TORONTO, June 11 /CNW/ - GTA residents strongly support immigration, and

see it as a key economic driver, according to a new survey commissioned by the

Toronto Region Immigrant Employment Council (TRIEC). The survey found that 78

per cent of residents believe the GTA needs skilled immigrants in order to

keep its economy growing.

    "Immigration is one of the most pressing issues facing the labour market

today," said Dominic D'Alessandro, CEO and President of Manulife Financial and

Chair of TRIEC. "Canada's population is not increasing naturally, and our

employees are aging. Immigrants have the skills and expertise to enhance and

expand our labour market, and it's critical that we break down any barriers to

this integration."

    Nearly all GTA residents (86 per cent) feel that employers are missing

opportunities by failing to recognize the value of hiring skilled immigrants.

The survey found that:

    -  33 per cent said they would be more likely to do business with a

       company that they knew went out of its way to incorporate skilled

       immigrants into its workforce

    -  80 per cent believe that employing skilled immigrants leads to

       improved products and services

    "Skilled immigrants offer tremendous opportunities to our economy and our

communities," said Ratna Omidvar, Executive Director of TRIEC and The Maytree

Foundation. "While industry talks about labour shortages, many immigrants in

these same areas already have the skills for the job. GTA residents recognize

this. They see the benefits of immigration. It is time for action."

    Action by government, employers, and other stakeholders should be

prompted by the fact that 68 per cent of residents feel that Canada has a

responsibility to provide opportunities for skilled immigrants after they have

arrived.

    The survey results are based on an Environics telephone survey conducted

with a sample of 1000 GTA residents (18 years and older) in April 2004. The

results are considered accurate to within +/- 3 percentage points, 19 times

out of 20. The data have been statistically weighted to ensure that the

sample's composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according

to the 2001 Census.

    A report outlining the findings from the survey and the data can be found

at http://www.triec.ca/immigrationworks.pdf.

    ABOUT TRIEC:

    An initiative of the Toronto City Summit Alliance and the Maytree

Foundation, TRIEC's mission is to create a vibrant and sustainable bridge that

links immigrant skills with labour market needs in the Toronto Region. TRIEC

is comprised of members that represent the various stakeholders: employers,

community organizations, assessment service providers, community

organizations, occupational regulatory bodies, labour, post-secondary

institutions, and all three levels of government.