The Intergovernmental Committee for Economic and Labour Force Development (ICE) facilitates collaboration among all ministries and departments involved with economic and labour force development in Toronto. Its unique value lies in its integrative perspective:
- It builds bridges between the supply and demand sides of labour force development.
- It identifies partnership opportunities and synergies between programs.
- It improves human resources planning and economic development in Toronto by expanding the shared knowledge base and relationships among the key public sector players in labour force and economic development and helping to coordinate joint initiatives.
- To share relevant information on current and upcoming federal, provincial and municipal services, initiatives and projects related to economic and labour force development in Toronto.
- To hold networking and other events of interest to the public, private and not-for-profit sectors on topics which encourage collaborative and innovative approaches to economic and labour force development in Toronto.
- To commission and publish research that can inform increased policy and program understanding and coherence in the areas of economic and labour force development in Toronto.
- To increase public access to information related to Toronto economic and labour force development by maintaining its website (icecommittee.org) as an information clearing house.
ICE activities are made possible by the financial support of Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada and the City of Toronto Economic Development & Culture Division
ICE members are drawn from the departments and ministries involved with economic development and labour force development activities in Toronto at all three orders of government. It is a working level committee. Each member contributes an in-depth understanding of the issues, programs, policies and projects in their own portfolio to the Committee’s discussions and work program. S/he is the connection between the Committee and the department or ministry s/he represents. Each member brings ICE initiatives, partnership opportunities and the information learned through the committee back to their colleagues and executive management. This broader network allows ICE to assist people in contacting appropriate government officials, in receiving feedback on specific initiatives and in influencing directions or actions.
Current ICE members include representatives from:
- City of Toronto: Economic Development & Culture; Employment & Social Services; and Social Development, Finance & Administration Divisions.
- Province of Ontario: Ministries of Education; Municipal Affairs; Citizenship & Immigration; Advanced Education & Skills Development; and Economic Development & Growth.
- Government of Canada: Immigration, Refugees & Citizenship Canada; Innovation, Science & Economic Development Canada; Employment & Social Development Canada; Service Canada; and FedDev Ontario.
Over 500 people form a broader network of stakeholders across the Toronto economic and labour force development ecosystem. They receive updates from ICE about new research findings, innovations and upcoming events, and are invited to attend at least two special forums a year which incorporate opportunities for informal networking as well as presentations and discussions.
Background
Originally formed in 1997 by officials in the Government of Canada, the Province of Ontario and the City of Toronto, ICE has played a key role in bringing together critical players to advance Toronto’s labour force and economic development for over twenty years.