On June 17, about 30 employers, business owners, and human resources professionals from the London area gathered for a free information session on recent changes to immigration policies and their impact on the labor market.
The meeting was organized by Advocacy & Policy Change Task Force, a working group dedicated to advocacy and policy changes in immigration. It is one of the three specialized working groups of the London Advisory Committee on Strategy for Newcomers (London Newcomer Strategy Advisory Body) — a roundtable that, since 2017, has brought together key stakeholders involved in attracting, integrating, and retaining newcomers to London, including the Francophone Immigration Network of Southwestern Ontario, the Elgin-Middlesex-Oxford Workforce Planning and Development Board, the London & Middlesex Local Immigration Partnership, and WILL Employment Solutions, among others. This collaboration illustrates the importance of a coordinated approach to meeting the region’s workforce needs: the City of London aims for an annual net inflow of at least 4,000 newcomers through direct migration, including at least 75 people of working age (15 to 64 years old).
Essential Updates for Employers
This meeting was moderated by Kim K. C. Ly, an immigration consultant and chair of the working group. Participants received the latest updates on federal and provincial immigration programs, as well as their impact on workforce planning, international recruitment, and talent retention. The presentation also covered the responsibilities and compliance requirements for employers who hire temporary foreign workers, in addition to offering concrete strategies for skills transfer and employee retention.
Francophone Mobility: An Immigration Pathway Worth Exploring
The London Francophone Welcoming Community (CFA), through the Francophone Immigration Network of the Center-Southwest (RIFCSO), contributed to this session with a presentation on the program Francophone Mobility, hosted by Rosa Atmani, project officer in charge of the CFA London and, more recently, also responsible for the employability and entrepreneurship component for both CFAs (Hamilton and London).
The employers in attendance were thus able to learn about this immigration pathway, which facilitates and expedites the recruitment of qualified French-speaking talent from outside Quebec, thanks to a streamlined process, shorter processing times, and lower costs.
« The Francophone Mobility Program is a win-win solution: it directly addresses companies’ workforce needs while contributing to the vitality of our Francophone communities. In my new role, this is exactly the kind of bridge I want to continue building between employers and the Francophone talent in our region. »
— Rosa Atmani, Project Officer, CFA London, and Head of the Employability and Entrepreneurship Program, CFA Hamilton and London
For his part, WILL Employment Solutions presented its support services to employers in the areas of recruitment, job retention, and workforce development, offering practical resources to assist them in these efforts.
The session concluded with a question-and-answer period that allowed participants to engage directly with the experts in attendance and gain a better understanding of the challenges and opportunities associated with evolving immigration policies.
This initiative enabled the employers in attendance to leave with practical tools to navigate an ever-changing regulatory landscape and support the growth of their businesses.
By the Numbers — London’s Strategy for Newcomers, 2024–2028
- 4 000 New arrivals by year under the direct migration program
- 3 000 New arrivals by year who are part of secondary migration (from another province or elsewhere in Ontario)
- 75 % This net inflow must consist of people of working age (15 to 64 years old)
- 70 % : Target average annual retention rate for newcomers
- 14 000 At least the following number of international postsecondary students admitted each year
Source: City of London, Strategy for Newcomers, Phase II (2024–2028)