Workforce Development and Attraction Committee

The Workforce Development and Attraction Committee is focused on long-term workforce challenges and opportunities, building capacity in Edmonton’s workforce and ensuring members have the talented individuals needed to meet current demands and support future growth.

The areas monitored by the Committee include but are not limited to post-secondary education, skills training, immigration, employee relations, equity and diversity, unemployment and labour supply, early learning and childcare, productivity and competitiveness, homelessness and infrastructure supporting the workforce.

Chair:

Doha Melhem, Pivotal Research Inc

Vice-Chair:

Vacant

Members-at-Large:

Adam Zawadiuk, Christmas Bureau of Edmonton

Allison Watson, Leger

Andrea De Ocampo, Robert Half Canada

Anthony Pangilinan, University of Alberta

Ayo Aiyeleye, Alberta Innovates

Doug Piquette, Edmonton Region Immigrant Employment Council (ERIEC)

Dylan Schoonover, Norquest College

Gemma Dunn, Edmonton Chamber of Voluntary Organizations

Gopan Kurup, ARC Business Solutions Inc.

Richy Mathew, Camelot Immigration Services Inc.

Ryan Young, NAIT

Theresa Vladicka, MacEwan University

Committee Work

This committee has shaped recommendations in Chamber advocacy throughout a number of documents this year from committee-specific letters to budget and election statements. Some of the recommendations this committee helped us make to government include:

Create pathways to transfer skills through upgrading, re-training, and apprenticeship programs for underemployed Albertans.
Attract international students by working with post-secondary institutions to strengthen Canada’s global brand as a study destination, especially in fields experiencing shortages.
Change the employment requirement of the Alberta Advantage Immigration Program (AAIP) to a one-year offer of employment.
Collaborate with the federal, provincial and territorial governments, and professional regulatory bodies to create conditions for improved transferability of credentials across the country.
Expand marketing to include more aspects of what makes the capital city, and Alberta, great.
Review programs such as the Alberta Job Grant to ensure program access is comparable to other provinces and training opportunities include owners of small businesses.
Support new and existing programs that remove systemic barriers, support underrepresented groups, and increase the capacity of nonprofit organizations doing this work.
Expand access to grants for work integrated learning through the Canada-Alberta Job Grant or other avenues.