Internship Program for Internationally Trained Individuals Winner at Career Edge Organization Achievement Awards

2010-02-24

2009/2010 Career Bridge Program Award Public Sector's winner was Ontario Public Service. Accepting the award on behalf of the Ministry, HR Ontario and OPS, Minister of Government Services, Hon. Harinder S. Takhar addressed a room full of internationally trained attendees, interns, and employers for internships for disabled persons, senior execs of leading public and private sector organizations.

Minister Takhar emphasized that in today's tough economic times such programs play a key role. Firstly, they provide necessary experience, opportunity and reference to trained new immigrants. Secondly, such programs help in making public service more reflective of our population. Finally, as the population ages the government needs to build diverse pool of new talent.

The OPS internship program is an innovative internship program specifically for professional newcomers to Canada, so that they can earn valuable Canadian work experience within their related career fields within the Ontario Public Service (OPS). Through this important bridging program, the Ontario government is fulfilling its commitment to help internationally trained individuals (ITIs) integrate into the Ontario labour market, enabling them to contribute to the provincial economy and promoting the OPS as an employer of first choice.

“One of the most important things we all can do to get the economy moving is to make an effective use of the Human Resources talent in this province."

QUICK FACTS

• In the past year, the ITI program was expanded to nearly double the number of six-month paid internships across the OPS, from 75-130 positions.
• To date, 81 percent of the ITI interns have leveraged their internship experience and found full time professional employment in the province.

TO LEARN MORE LOG ONTO: http://www.gojobs.gov.on.ca/JumpStart.asp#Internships