Finance committee  I think what we're seeing is definitely that there are many people who need to come down to Winnipeg and other major centres to access education, to access services. What many local non-profits are facing is that the demand is really outstripping our capacity to serve the amount of people who are coming down looking for services, and that's a huge challenge.

Finance committee  We were originally part of a national pilot program, and we were funded through ESDC. There were nine pilot sites across Canada. Now, aside from Alberta, there are only two agencies left that have been able to continue operating. Once the pilot program ended, we were assured that they were looking at the national evaluation of the project, and to continue serving newcomers as long as we could.

Finance committee  Yes.

Finance committee  I'd just like to add that some policies create additional barriers that reduce productivity. When we're looking at our skilled immigrants, for example, the policies established by the regulatory bodies and trade associations mean that in some instances folks have to go back right to the high school level when the different kinds of assessments that should be done aren't being done, and it can take someone four years to requalify through the process.

Finance committee  Thank you. One of the things I see most regularly in working with newcomers and indigenous folks is systemic racism as a long-term issue that needs to be addressed. I think it's difficult when newcomers come here, perhaps with different names that are difficult to pronounce. That creates fear in employers, who wonder how they will possibly interview this person.

Finance committee  Good morning, everyone. Thank you for the opportunity to present today. Supporting Employment and Economic Development Winnipeg, or SEED Winnipeg, is a not-for-profit charitable community economic development organization that offers business development training and services to support business creation and expansion.