Canada needs more Filipino workers

More jobs await Filipinos in Canada because they are well-educated and have good communication skills.
Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Christopher Thornley said Canada is looking for more healthcare professionals, lawyers, teachers, and trade people.
Thornley said the Filipino community is now the “largest among the ethnic groups” in Canada, with about 500,000 migrants, outnumbering Indians and Chinese, in interviews with media in Manila.
Thornley noted that most of the 250,000 slots for immigrants last year were handed out to Filipinos.
“We issued more resident visas to Filipinos last year than all the other nationalities,” he said.
Aside from hiring more Filipinos, Thornley said that Canada is also interested in developing trade relations with the Philippines, especially on agriculture, outsourcing, food, technology, insurance and other financial services.
He said Canada has renewed confidence in the Philippines because of the Aquino administration’s campaign against corruption.
“Filipinos are very well educated who can contribute to many of our manpower requirements. Aside from that, you also speak English well, which makes communication better,” he said.
Thornley said Canadian investors were looking into opportunities in mining, agriculture, food, technology, outsourcing and insurance and financial services.
“Most of the investors are very keen on the mining industry here and I think we can work together on this,” he said.
Thornley, however, said that there could have been more investment interests in the country had the policy for foreign investors been made to be more encouraging for them.
“The policies are a challenge but I think the current administration is doing something about it. There could be more (investors) if the policies aren’t that difficult for foreign investors,” he said.
He said that the government of Canada had gained renewed confidence in the Philippines especially with the current administration’s thrust to eradicate corruption.
“Corruption inhibits investments and trading. The present government’s anti-corruption stand has actually renewed our confidence for the country.”
Other industries that Thornley said that we can partner with Canada includes tourism specifically in leisure and medical tourism.
“Again the Filipinos speak English well and Canadians feel more comfortable traveling to places where people understand and can communicate with them,” he said.
Thornley cited the need to establish more flights to Canada.
“One thing we love about the Philippines is the warm weather. Canadians love to escape the cold winters,” Thornley said.