History of IAF
IAF is a grassroots effort started in 2003 by a group of Calgarians led by Dr. Maria Eriksen who saw the need to help newcomers from other countries maximize their careers in Canada.
The group collaborated with the Alberta Network of Immigrant Women to research the issues around immigrant employment.
- Immigrant women require flexible credit, particularly for accreditation, upgrading, and training.
- There was no existing micro loan facility in Alberta to serve this need.
- Immigrants also require training, support networks, and information to help them succeed as newcomers to Canada.
Though women were the focus of the study, additional information revealed that immigrant men also require this type of service. Analysis of Demographic and Labour Force data showed that the number of skilled workers entering the labour force would not be able to match the growing demand. At the same time people could not find a doctor, and oil companies could not find engineers, internationally trained doctors and engineers were driving taxis and delivering pizza. If the nation were to remain competitive, we would have to rely on increasing 1) the number of skilled immigrants entering the country; and 2) opportunities for immigrants to apply their skills. (A copy of the study is available from IAF.) Link to the study
The study concluded:Satisfying the requirements of professional associations, regulatory bodies, and apprenticeship boards present considerable obstacles to immigrants trying to obtain licensing and accreditation to practice their trade or profession in Canada. Most immigrants need to find work quickly to cover living costs and cannot afford expensive re-qualifying programs, nor to repeat their formal training. In addition, their lack of credit history, collateral, or suitable employment limits their access to traditional credit sources to fund the upgrading or accreditation necessary to pursue their employment goals. Internationally trained people usually need fund for things like exam fees, regulatory body fees, assessments, living allowance. Since student loans are an option only if enrolled in full-time studies, they are usually not an option for most applicants.
The group determined that a micro loan program designed specifically to help immigrants initiate the process of licensing and accreditation, thereby securing employment in their profession or trade, would address a key gap in services for immigrants and respond to an immediate and growing need for skills in Alberta. Though immigrants faced other, more systemic obstacles to accreditation, removing the financial obstacle moves them one step closer to success, and to ultimately making their best possible contribution the economic and social success of Canada.
The name Immigrant Access Fund was chosen for the project, and the following vision, mandate, and values were adopted.
VISION
Skilled immigrants are equitably integrated into the workforce and contributing their expertise to Canada's economic and social success.
MANDATE
To relieve poverty by providing micro-loans to needy immigrants in order to assist them in obtaining Canadian accreditation or training that will allow them to obtain employment in their field.
NON-NEGOTIABLE VALUES
- Accessibility
- Equitability
- Sustainability
- Integrity
- Relevancy
The first IAF loans were approved in 2005: two loans, both to international medical graduates. To December 31, 2011, 700 loans totalling $3.5 million had been approved in Alberta. Since March 2011 IAF has been developing an plan to introduce IAF programs in other provides; IAF Saskatchewan launched in February 2012.
