Immigration minister says focus for refugees turning to jobs

VANCOUVER (NEWS 1130) – Now that a number of refugees have permanent homes, the federal government is looking at how to find them jobs.

Speaking in Vancouver today, Immigration Minister John McCallum says employment is one of the top priorities.

“Someone asked me ‘What are the three major challenges?’ I said ‘Housing, housing, and housing,'” says McCallum. “But now, we’re quite well along on housing… If you ask me today, ‘What’s the major challenge?’ I’d probably say jobs.”

However, McCallum says to achieve that, the government needs to focus on teaching English to the government-sponsored refugees.

“After that, they will need jobs, but not the highest skilled jobs. And there are industries crying out for labour in relatively unskilled work. And so, I am confident that they will succeed,” he says.

Over 70 per cent of refugees have found permanent housing Canada-wide, compared to just over 50 per cent in Vancouver.

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