Temporary or Transitional? – Migrant Workers’ Experiences with Permanent Residence in Canada

Although more and more temporary migrant workers are becoming permanent residents in Canada, their experience with immigration opportunities remains under-studied. This study aims to fill that gap by examining the lived experience of migrant workers — in skilled and low-skilled occupations — who transition to permanent residence   Click here to read the report

Shifting Workforce Development into High Gear

 Workforce development is the next wave of economic development. The overwhelming opinion of the private sector is that businesses grow and prosper where there is a talented, well-suited workforce. Learning to partner with Workforce Investment Boards (WIBs) and education to create this workforce is not an option for economic developers; it is a new requirement … Read more

NRC Concierge Service

 Concierge Service helps SMEs access available government programs in a one-stop shop.  It will guide canadian SMEs’ to R&D support. Personalized assistance Through Concierge Advisors, the Concierge Service will assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating the many available innovation resources and support programs offered by the government and selecting the right options to … Read more

Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy

Starting 2013, the Ontario government is investing $295 million over two years through the strategy to create employment opportunities for about 30,000 youth, while promoting innovation and entrepreneurship. As part of Ontario’s plan for jobs and growth, the government is  working to get more young people working — either through employment or by starting their … Read more

Youth Entrepreneurship Fund (Youth Business Accelerator Program)

Youth Business Acceleration Program Launched in October 2013 as part of the Ontario Youth Jobs Strategy, this program will enable Regional Innovation Centres to further expand their program offerings by tailoring BAP programs and services to youth aged 18 to 29, equipping young entrepreneurs with the tools and skills required to start and grow successful … Read more

Youth Entrepreneurship Fund (Youth Investment Accelerator Fund)

Youth IAF Part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy Apply for investment capital ($100,000- $250,000) to help your business expand Your business must not be beyond the seed capital stage, with revenues under $500,000 Strong potential to attract follow-on financing The Province of Ontario is launching a new fund designed to invest in technology-based startups founded … Read more

Youth Employment Fund (Employment and Training Supports)

Part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy For Youth If you are unemployed, not in school full-time and between 15 and 29, Ontario will do more to help you connect with employers and get a job placement of four to six months. We will provide incentives to employers to help cover the cost of wages and training … Read more

Youth Skills Connections Program (community stream)

Part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy The program funds not-for-profits and public sector organizations to deliver collaborative projects that: provide training and skills development to help vulnerable youth overcome barriers to employment (e.g., a criminal record, poverty) address a demonstrated skills and labour shortage faced by industry result in long-term employment opportunities for youth enrolled … Read more

Youth Skills Connections Program (industry stream)

Youth Skills Connections Program (industry stream) Part of Ontario’s Youth Jobs Strategy The industry stream brings together industry, educational institutions and not-for-profits to better connect skills-training with industry needs. The program will fund collaborative projects that: identify a skills-gap or labour shortage faced by industry provide training that addresses skills-gaps and improves the employability of … Read more

Job Bank

The Job Bank is Canada’s one-stop job listing Web site. During its establishment in the late 1960’s, Canadians have come to know and trust Job Bank as an easy to use, free job listing and recruitment service that has benefited employers, businesses and job seekers alike. For more infomration:  http://www.jobbank.gc.ca/intro-eng.aspx

Ontario Business Program Guide

The Ontario Business Program Guide is a free, online directory of tax incentives, tax credits and government support programs for business. The Ontario Business Program Guide is updated regularly, so revisit it periodically to see what’s new. Typically, users should be prepared to spend 10 to 20 minutes navigating the guide and reading its entries … Read more

Ontario Municipal Program Guide

The Ontario Municipal Program Guide is a free, online directory of programs and services for municipalities provided by the Government of Ontario. This directory makes it easy to find general information about programs and services for municipalities. The current version of this guide covers programs from 13 ministries and offices across the provincial government.  To … Read more

Canada Business Ontario (CBO)

In Ontario, Canada Business Ontario (CBO), which is a part of the Canada Business Network, has been Ontario’s Business Information Connection since 1995. CBO provides both federal and provincial business information – all at no cost. CBO can assist with finding information on starting a business, government financing programs, exporting, taxation or how to hire … Read more

Red Tape Reduction Commission

Between January and March 2011, the Red Tape Reduction Commission consulted with Canadians and received approximately 2,300 ideas about red tape irritants that get in the way of business productivity. The full report was unveiled in January 2012.  It contains 15 systemic changes and 90 department-specific recommended solutions to eliminate or alleviate these irritants. The report … Read more

Specialist High Skills Major Program

A Specialist High Skills Major program (SHSM) is a ministry-approved specialized program that allows students to focus their learning on a specific economic sector while meeting the requirements to graduate from secondary school. It also assists in their transition after graduation to apprenticeship training, college, university or the workplace. Pursuing an SHSM enables students to: … Read more

The Silver Brush

The Silver Brush provides painting services to the commercial residential market. It is operated by a partnership of Houselink Community Homes and Parkdale Activity Resource Centre. The Silver Brush offers permanent employment to psychiatric consumer/survivors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. PARTNERS: • Ministry of Community and Social Services • City of Toronto … Read more

Friends’ Catering Company

Friends offers a full range of catering services, including some of its own recipes, to non-profit organizations and corporations in the downtown area. Catering ranges from lunch meetings to full service multi-course diners. The company provides professional training and employment opportunities for individuals who have experienced substantial barriers to finding employment. It is owned and … Read more

Furniture Bank

Furniture Bank has established Furniture Link to create employment opportunities for homeless and at-risk individuals. Furniture Link operates a delivery service, handling all furniture deliveries for Furniture Bank’s clients and a furniture refinishing and upgrading shop, which recycles, upgrades and/or repairs donated items that are unique and/or surplus. Web site: www.furniturebank.org PARTNERS: Ministry of Community … Read more

St. John’s Bakery

St. John’s Bakery makes organic, artisan-style bread for sale to retailers, and provides employment to marginalized individuals in the community. The Bakery is expanding its capacity and will open a retail store by moving to a new building owned by the Mission. The expansion will enable the Bakery to employ more people, to enhance its … Read more

Phoenix Print Shop

Eva’s Phoenix has developed a printing shop to train 10-12 youth each year about the print business. The youth get intensive training in computer set-up and on the printing machines. They are working on real print jobs for real customers so are exposed to the pressures and deadlines in the industry. Most of the participants are youth … Read more

Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises (OCAB)

Also owned and operated by the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses (OCAB), Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises is a horticultural maintenance business that provides streetscaping for Business Improvement Associations and indoor plant maintenance. Green Thumb offers permanent employment to psychiatric consumer/survivors who are homeless or at risk of homelessness. Web site: Parkdale Green Thumb Enterprises PARTNERS: … Read more

Out of this World Café (OCAB)

Owned and operated by the Ontario Council of Alternative Businesses (OCAB), Out of This World Café is located within the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH)’s Queen Street site, and operates four business units: a café, an espresso bar, a mobile coffee cart, and a catering business. Out of This World Café is the … Read more

Sistering Inspirations Studio

Inspirations Studio is a studio space where homeless and marginalized women develop micro-businesses in arts and crafts production. Inspirations Business obtains bulk orders from organizations and corporations for gift items, which are sub-contracted to the members of the studio. Sistering owns and operates Inspirations Studio. Web site: http://www.inspirationsstudio.org/ PARTNERS: Ministry of Community and Social Services … Read more

Haween Enterprises

Owned and operated by the Somali Women and Children’s Support Network, Haween Enterprises is a sewing enterprise that makes textile products for manufacturers, private companies and individuals, and provides training and transitional employment for immigrant and low-income women. It has several large, long-term contracts to produce cloth bags and vacuum cleaner bags. Web site: http://haweenenterprises.com/ … Read more

River Restaurant

All-A-Board Youth Ventures (AAB) is a non-profit organisation created to provide meaningful employment for youth-at-risk between the ages of 17 and 24. AAB has been in operation for six years, providing on-the-job training for youth at the River Restaurant, a full service restaurant. The River Restaurant provides transitional employment to youth in a sophisticated restaurant … Read more

Joint Level Programs

Joint Level Programs Project Title: Toronto Enterprise Fund Toronto Enterprise Fund (TEF) is a funding partnership of United Way Toronto, the City of Toronto, the Ontario Ministry of Community and Social Services – Ontario Disability Supports Program, and the federal government through Homelessness Partnership Initiative, a program administered by the City of Toronto. Objective: The … Read more

Youth Employment Partnerships

The program provides overall co-ordination and capacity building for the youth employment agencies to increase the effectiveness of their job development activities and deliver projects that emerge from this co-ordination. Eligible to participate are non-profit youth employment agencies involved with job development for youth with barriers (“at-risk” youth). The program supports youth employment agencies in implementing an … Read more

Toronto Urban Fellows Program

The Toronto Urban Fellows program is a one-year fellowship that provides talented early-career professionals with intensive exposure to the governance, operations and administration of Canada’s largest city through a combination of full-time work experience, career coaching, and a series of seminars, tours and workshops. Applicants must have graduated from a Master’s or PhD program within … Read more

Capital Improvement Program

The program works with Business Improvement Areas (BIAs) to implement physical improvements to the public realm that work as a catalyst for additional employment revitalization activity. Capital funding is provided on a 50/50 cost-share basis, to improve the appearance, function and physical conditions of public spaces above and beyond the City’s standard treatment. GOVERNMENT CONTACT: … Read more

Imagination, Manufacturing, Innovation and Technology(IMIT) Grant

IMIT grant supports new building construction and/or building expansion in targeted sectors and areas across the City. The program will be made available for a five-year period. Eligible development will benefit from a deferral of up to 60% of the increase in the municipal taxes attributable to eligible new commercial and industrial construction over a … Read more

Toronto’s Business Improvement Areas (BIAs)

BIAs help create safe, unique, and thriving business areas that attract shoppers, diners, tourists, and new businesses in an age of competition with shopping malls and big-box retailers. The City of Toronto offers grants for festivals and special events, murals, façade improvements and commercial market research. To learn more about BIAs in your community go … Read more

Commercial Façade Improvement Program for Business Improvement Areas

The program works with commercial building owners whose properties are located in designated Business Improvement Areas (BIAs), which have Community Improvement Plans in place to encourage the redesign, renovation and restoration of commercial building façades by facilitating business partnerships. The program helps to stimulate private reinvestment, increase property values, boost business and better neighbourhoods. Grants are … Read more

Streetscape Improvement Program

The program works in partnership with a Business Improvement Area (BIA). The City provides 50/50 matching capital funds for streetscape beautification projects such as decorative pedestrian lighting, kiosks, banners, theme signage, landscaping, fountains and decorative street furniture. GOVERNMENT CONTACT: Raj Kumar Capital Project Coordinator 77 Elizabeth Street, 2nd Floor 416-392-187692 Antonella Nicaso Capital Project Coordinator … Read more

Mural Program

[Employment Revitalization Program – A] This program helps local businesses and community organizations create an attractive and positive identity for their commercial areas. It encourages organizations to leverage other funding, develop local commitment and involvement. It provides funding to business areas for wall mural projects. GOVERNMENT CONTACT: Michael Saunders Community Partnership Advisor Economic Development City of Toronto … Read more

Creativity and Collaboration Investment Program (CCC)

The program provides seed money for the initiation or expansion of projects which are expected to yield substantial economic development benefits for the City of Toronto, by contributing to the local economy through new economic growth and job creation. Incorporated non-profit organizations can participate in the program. Eligibility for the CCC: Investment Program Applicants must … Read more

Metro Hall Employment Services

On-site support from Career and Employment Information Specialists. This facility provides a range of job search, career planning and job retention services. It also showcases Toronto Public Service jobs and other career opportunities resulting from City initiated projects. Government Contact: Patrick Chartrand Community and Labour Market Manager Metro Hall Employment and Social Services (416) 397 … Read more

Partnership to Advance Youth Employment

The Partnership to Advance Youth Employment (PAYE) is a joint initiative between private sector employers and the City of Toronto. A group of business leaders, including the Toronto Board of Trade, is engaging employers to increase access to economic opportunities for youth. Government Contact: Karen Wilson Program Support Manager Social Services Division City of Toronto … Read more

Individual Services and Supports

This program provides access to training or services that are customized to the needs of an individual Ontario Works participant. Short-term skill training courses, specialized assessments and job strategy are some of the services that can be accessed. Government Contact: Mary Baratta Program Support Manager (416) 392-8433

ICE Committee