Working Together: Inter and Intra-governmental Collaboration in Toronto

1. Working Together:Inter and Intra-governmental Collaboration in Toronto Naomi Alboim Queen’s University/Maytree/TRIEC Bern February, 2010

2. Why? • Population and labour force growth dependent on immigration • Immigrants’ skills not being used effectively despite skill shortages • Immigrant poverty, unemployment and underemployment rates higher than previous cohorts • No single cause or solution • Many players/governments involved • Impact felt locally but little input or control

3. Early Context • Recognition of centrality of immigration and labour market issues by civic leaders • New leadership and policy direction at federal, provincial and municipal levels of government • Commitment to improved intergovernmental cooperation • “New Deal” for cities • Toronto had strong interest in having a voice at federal-provincial tables • Time was right

4. Jurisdictional Responsibilities • Immigration is shared responsibility of federal and provincial governments • Both federal and provincial governments play a role in labour market training • Cities are where people settle and work • There were no mechanisms for tri-level government collaboration that integrated immigration and labour market issues

5. Focused Objectives • To facilitate speedy, effective labourmarket integration for skilled immigrants into their fields of expertise • To engage all levels of government and key partners in a collaborative and cooperative way to accomplish this • To ensure that a particular local lens is applied when solutions are developed and implemented

6. Opportunity for New Model • Existing models for Federal/Provincial agreements did not work in this area: • Labour Market Development Agreements: didn’t include programs for non -EI eligible (immigrants) • Immigration agreements: didn’t include labour market issues • Neither involved cities

7. Opportunity for New Model • Some city focused tri-level partnerships existed on specific issues: eg. Vancouver, Winnipeg (eg. urban development, urban aboriginals, homelessness) • Develop Toronto-focused tri-level partnership, involving relevant departments and ministries, on immigrant access to labour market • Variety of formal and informal mechanisms possible

8. Strategy: A Bottom-Up Approach • Bring all key players together, led by employers, at the local level to identify needs, facilitate coordination and collaboration • Be action oriented and show commitment of stakeholders to effect positive change • Develop new F/P/M relationships to ensure sustainability

9. Role of Governments in TRIEC Context • Creating an enabling environment • Facilitating vertical and horizontal integration within the government sector • Working with others to remove barriers and respond to identified needs

10. What We Did… • Ministers , Mayors, Regional Chairs eager to be involved in TRIEC and provided direction to staff • Membership in IGR at senior staff level by invitation to all relevant departments, ministries (4 federal, 3 provincial, 4 municipalities) • Credible non-government convener and secretariat • Neutral chair elected by members • Draft terms of reference approved

11. Terms of Reference • Scope: • Focus on “appropriate labour market entry for skilled immigrants that reflects their education, skills and experience” • Focus on the Greater Toronto Area

12. Terms of Reference • Objectives: • Identify partnerships and strategies to create new culture of inter and intra-governmental relations in GTA • Coordination and collaboration to identify gaps, maximize existing resources, improve impact, and inform program and policy directions

13. Terms of Reference • Guiding principles: • Support a constructive environment for the sharing of information and the development of ideas. • Ensure opportunities to share information that will enhance government decision-making. • Equal participation without hierarchy among levels of government. • Identify shared objectives as a basis for cooperation and collaboration. • Confidentiality of all meetings and discussions to ensure a safe environment where people feel comfortable to share information.

14. Terms of Reference • Activities: • Complete mapping and analysis of existing programs and initiatives (related to labour market entry of skilled immigrants) offered and funded by all levels of government. • Prioritize strategic options for effective interventions that may include pilot projects and demonstration projects. • Explore policy options. • Explore options for inter/intra-governmental collaboration and cooperation that embed practices and ensure sustainability.

15. 1. Mapping Exercise • Who is funding whom, for how much, to do what, for whom, where, with what results • Common fact base of benefit to all • Not threatening because fact based • Led naturally to identification of gaps, overlaps and duplication • Led naturally to “what can we do?” • First: existing dollars, existing programs • Next: recommendations for policy and program changes • Use of information and recommendations (internal, TRIEC, inform negotiation process)

16. 2. Pilot Project Example • Language assessment tool for labour market readiness • Multiplicity of tools being used, none specifically for labour market • One department funded research and development of new tool • Other department tested it in funded organizations • Cities tested it in welfare offices • Now used as part of assessment battery by provincial and municipal governments

17. 2. Strategic Initiatives Example • BUILD IT (Business Utilizing Immigrant Skills and Leveraging Diversity in IT) • Employer supports to recruit, integrate, retain international IT professionals • Pilot in York Region involves IT employers, sector council, college, Chinese Professionals Assoc, Human Resource Professionals Assoc, COSTI, TCU, MCI • Jointly funded by CIC and MCI • Scalable and transferable

18. 3. Policy Recommendations • Recommendations for policy changes developed and discussed at the table (now looking at impact of recession) • Pursued within departments with common fact base and speaking points • Advocated by TRIEC to governments • Inform more formal federal-provincial discussions

19. 4. COIA • The Canada Ontario Immigration Agreement now includes an annex pertaining to municipalities and Toronto in particular • Working groups involve all three levels of government • Some flexibility on labour market activity • Agreement will be re-negotiated in coming year

20. Success Indicators • Survived change in governments • Monthly meetings continue since 2003 despite existence of more formal tables. • Municipal players now the most active. • Atmosphere is informal, open, and trusting in the meeting room and corridors. • Organizations are sharing their data and findings before they are public. The committee provides early warnings to each other. • Joint agenda and priority setting keeps meetings current and fresh. Members bring their experts. • Not just information sharing

21. Conclusion • Focus on new way of doing business collaboratively is attractive to all levels of government particularly in times of fiscal constraint • Win-win-win • Pilot for other cities • Addresses labour market, immigration, urban agendas in integrated way