"Canada Days" to showcase employment opportunities

Cebuanos will have the opportunity to know more about Canada, the most open country for migration in the world, as it celebrates a three-day "Canada Days" in Cebu this coming August 3, 4 and 5.

Robert O. Lee, Consul Honoraire for Government of Canada said Cebuanos will be given a chance to be familiar what Canada has to offer in terms of trade, education, employment, and even an option to live and work in Canada during these three days of showcase.

In an interview, Lee said this is the first time that the Canadian Embassy in the Philippines will celebrate a three-day long event in Cebu in celebration of the "Canada Day" as Cebu has become one of the important partners of Canada. Usually, this kind of celebration is only held in a day.

"We are putting together all the events in order for people to know more about Canada," Lee said.

The event, which will be graced by Canadian Ambassador to the Philippines Peter Sutherland, will hold food festivals, photo exhibit, film showing, trade and employment opportunities, and education opportunities in Canada, among others.

He said Cebu is importing huge number of wheat products, oyster (and other food products) from Canada. Likewise, Cebu is exporting goods like furniture to Canada.

"This is a good opportunity for Cebuanos and people in Visayas and Mindanao to discover several opportunities they can take advantage of in Canada, and know about the country's culture, its help to the Philippines, and other important things," Lee said.

Cebu is becoming one of the cities in the Philippines being eyed by Canadian employment recruitment agencies, and Canada's City Development Corporation as a good source for skilled workers, which Canada is badly needing to boost its economy.

In fact, Lee mentioned that recently, development officers from Canada's City Development Corporation were here in Cebu to introduce the needed employment opportunities in the country, and let Cebuanos be aware of the opportunities in employment Cebuanos or Filipinos in general could take advantage of.

These include skilled workers for Information Technology (IT) and technical professionals, machine operators, accountants, lawyers, and others.

Lee admitted that Canada is continuously inviting immigrants to work and live in this booming country.

Every year, Canada is accepting 14,000 to 15,000 Filipino immigrants. He said Canada, which is also regarded as a "family friendly" country is still inviting immigrants to their country, especially those who are in their productive age.

Currently, there are about 500,000 Filipinos who are working and living in Canada.

Canada has a land area of 10 million square meters making it one of the largest economies in the world.

With only 31.7 million population, the country is inviting immigrants especially those who can well contribute to its growing economy.

Canada is the world's leader in software development, telecommunication, aerospace, urban transport, biotechnology, mining technology and environmental industries.

The Canadian government, through its developmental project, Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) Pearl, has been helping potential industries to thrive like the small and medium entrepreneurs (SMEs), in order help alleviate poverty in the Philippines.