Ontario Liberals promise $10,000 to companies that hire immigrants

The Ontario Liberals have proposed a new tax credit for businesses who hire new Canadians.

The program would provide a $10,000 tax break for employers who hire new Canadians – new Canadian citizens who have lived in Ontario for less than five years.

“The program is for immigrants that are having some trouble finding a job in their specialized field,” said Ontario Liberal candidate Mark MacDonald. “They need the work experience. Some of them are working low paying jobs that are not in their field.”

Encouraging companies to hire immigrants draws criticism

And what about the criticism the program is garnering for seemingly putting new Canadians ahead of natural-born Canadians?

“There are already some programs in existence for Canadian citizens, so this is an extension of that,” said MacDonald. “It’s a newer program to reach out to address some of those areas where there’s a shortage. For me, anything that expedites the process, especially when it comes to doctors and other highly skilled people who have to take a lower paying job… it’s a good thing.”

The program would cost $12 million over four years and be expected to help between 1,000 and 1,200 people annually.

VisaPlace Immigration News Contributor

Michael Niren, Founder of VisaPlace

Michael Niren is the founder of VisaPlace Immigration and has spent more than 30 years helping people through the immigration process. Today, VisaPlace focuses on helping Canadians move to the United States, whether for a new job, a business, family or retirement. Michael’s commentary on immigration has been featured on CNN, CBC and The Globe and Mail. VisaPlace Immigration works with licensed and experienced immigration lawyers, who are independent and operate separately from VisaPlace Immigration, and every client’s case is reviewed by one of them. Michael does not provide legal advice.