In the Spring of 2021, the Intercultural Competency Working Group (ICT Working Group) was created to advise Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada (IRCC) and the provincial governments of Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador in the design of the permanent Atlantic Immigration Program (AIP).
The ICT Working Group, co-chaired by IRCC and ARAISA (Atlantic Region Association of Immigrant Serving Agencies), included representatives of service providing organizations and provincial government. Together, they explored ways to assist AIP employers in creating welcoming workplaces for newcomer employees. They determined that intercultural competency training is crucial for employers and it became one of the mandatory requirements for designation in the permanent program. Employers receive a certificate after having completed the training, which they must include in their designation application.
The working group made 4 key recommendations for Intercultural Competency Training for employers:
Intercultural Competency Training (ICT)