The Sarnia Lambton Immigration Task Force has introduced a five-year framework to grow immigration in the community, with specific markers to help determine if progress is being made.
The group, previously known as the President’s Immigration Taskforce, was officially established in 2022.
Chair Judith Morris (retired Lambton College president and CEO) said this process has been about eight years in the making and was later "reinvigorated" with key leaders.
Over the past year, the task force has worked with a consultant from the Centre for Organizational Effectiveness to determine the next steps and mitigation strategies needed to secure regional growth.
"I think we have an amazing opportunity to become a diverse population, to drive that diversity forward because it just makes our community richer, it makes thinking broader, and it feels good as a community," said Morris. "I hope that we will all embrace this and move forward with it."
A steering committee and four working groups have each been tasked with an action plan specific to their sector.
The steering committee will oversee the work being done by all four groups and will identify collaboration opportunities. Morris said the steering committee has metrics in order to see what actions have or haven't been successful.
"So there'll be semi-annual and annual evaluations and absolutely we will have communication points coming out of that," she said.
The College Action Group will be responsible for working with businesses and creating awareness of outstanding international students and graduates.
The Employment and Economic Development Action Group will match employers with international graduates and skilled workers. The group will also be tasked with helping employers create an inclusive workplace.
The Community Action Group will look after the overall success of helping newcomers succeed within the community through mentorships, networking, and volunteer opportunities.
The Systems Action Group will be responsible for advocacy and working with upper levels of government.
Morris said there are about 35 people invested in this initiative and are combining their own strategies with that of the task force. For example, she referenced the work of the Employment and Economic Development Action Group.
"[They are] working hand-in-hand with the Sarnia-Lambton Economic Partnership because that's a key goal of theirs, to attract newcomers to our area," Morris said. "The work in bridging somebody who's new to our community into the employment world is really not an easy bridge to make and so there's a lot of work that's being done."
As another example, Morris said Bluewater Health is driving forward an EDI (equity, diversity, and inclusion) that has the potential to work with other employers who don't have EDI policies in place.
While some actions have already taken place, Morris said others are expected to roll out throughout the year.
Looking ahead, Morris said they'll be able to track their progress using census data specific to the region, compiled by a consultant. Based on data provided to the task force from 2021, immigrants account for 10 per cent of Sarnia-Lambton's population but the province had a 30 per cent rate.
"So when the next census is done, if we are really relying on that actual data, we will be able to see if we've had growth, it will be easy to see," she said.
Other markers include how many international students are moving into permanent residences and the number of immigrants who are in the working age group, which Morris said will be one of the key parameters in reducing skilled worker shortages.
