MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT PERSPECTIVES is published quarterly for the: Canadian Employee Relocation Council Suite 1711 44 Victoria Street Toronto, ON M5C 1Y2 Tel: 416-593-9812 Toll Free: 1-866-357-CERC (2372) Fax: 416-593-1139 www.cerc.ca Published by: www.mediaedgepublishing.com 33 South Station Street Toronto, Ontario M9N 2B2 Toll Free: 1-866-480-4717 robertt@mediaedge.ca Publisher Robert Thompson Editor Roma Ihnatowycz Sales Executives Gary Fustey, Dawn Stokes, Jack Smith, Pat Johnston Senior Graphic Design Specialist James T. Mitchell President Kevin Brown Senior Vice President Robert Thompson Director, Business Development Michael Bell Branch Manager Nancie Privé Published March 2019 Publication Mail Agreement #40787580 Perspectives examines and reports on issues related to the relocation and movement of employees for the benefit of employers moving their employees and the organizations that provide support services. The opinions expressed in Perspectives do not necessarily reflect the views of CERC. Information contained in this publication has been compiled from sources believed to be reliable, however, the publishers cannot be responsible for the absolute correctness or sufficiency of articles contained herein. Members of CERC receive one annual subscription with their membership dues. Subscriptions are available to members and non-members for $50 each per year. Articles and contributions are welcomed, however, MediaEdge Publishing and CERC reserve the right to publish and edit any article submitted. All published articles remain the property of CERC and may not be reproduced without permission. PERSPECTIVES is printed on 10% post-consumer FSC certified paper using soya based inks. When necessary to mail an issue in an enclosure, we use an environmentally-friendly, 100% oxo-degradable poly-wrap. modern skills. Immigration and mobility are key solutions and Canada has, to this point, done a good job of staying ahead of the pack in designing comprehensive immigration systems and rati- fying international trade agreements that make it easier to move global employees within the signatory countries. In the recent 22nd Annual CEO Survey published by PwC, nearly 30 per cent of CEOs surveyed projected a decline in global economic growth, up from a mere five per cent last year. Reasons for the increased pessimism include over-regulation, policy uncer- tainty, shortage of key skills, and trade conflicts – all of which Canada is addressing through immigration policy and by building global trade partners. Canada also stands out as a destination of choice for global employees willing to relocate to another country for work. In CERC’s 2017 Global Mobility Survey, Canada was selected as a favoured destination country among the 20 countries listed in the survey, second only to the United States. In considering whether to move, most employees indicated that they would only move to a country that was welcoming to immigrants and provides access to good education, health care and social support systems. These are all present in Canada today and provide a competitive advantage to our businesses and communities that need skilled talent. As election campaigning gets underway, CERC will meet with the federal government and opposition parties to press the point that Canada needs robust, effective, and efficient economic immi- gration programs in order to grow the country’s population and secure a prosperous economic future. At the same time, Canada should be looking to expand elements of its Temporary Foreign Worker Program, particularly with an eye to Trusted Employer Programs and expansion of the occupations covered in the Global Talent Stream. Throughout the spring and early summer, CERC will be hosting immigration symposia in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto and Montreal, gathering further input from our members on these important issues. I hope you will have the opportunity to join us. Sincerely, Stephen Cryne President & CEO, CERC mobilité sont donc des solutions incontournables. À ce jour, le Canada demeure à l’avant-garde en concevant des systèmes d’im- migration complets et en ratifiant des accords commerciaux inter- nationaux qui facilitent la mobilité. Dans le récent 22e Sondage annuel auprès des PDG, publié par PwC, près de 30 pour cent des répondants prévoyaient un ralen- tissement de la croissance économique mondiale, contre seule- ment 5 pour cent l’année dernière. Les raisons de ce pessimisme comprennent la surréglementation, l’incertitude politique, la dispo- nibilité de compétences clés et les conflits commerciaux — autant de problèmes auxquels le Canada s’attaque par le biais de sa politique d’immigration et de l’établissement de partenariats commerciaux. Le Canada se démarque également comme destination de choix pour les employés du monde entier. Dans l’Enquête sur la mobilité mondiale de 2017 du CERC, le Canada a été choisi comme pays de destination privilégié parmi les 20 pays énumérés, au deuxième rang après les États-Unis. Interrogés sur leur disposition à s’ex- patrier, la plupart des employés ont indiqué qu’ils ne déménage- raient que dans un pays accueillant et offrant un accès à de bons systèmes d’éducation, de soins de santé et de sécurité sociale. Tous ces éléments sont présents au Canada aujourd’hui et procurent un avantage concurrentiel à nos entreprises. Au début de la campagne électorale, le CERC rencontrera le gouver- nement et les partis de l’opposition pour insister sur le fait que le Canada a besoin de programmes d’immigration économique solides, efficaces et efficients afin d’accroître la population du pays et de garantir un avenir économique prospère. En même temps, le Canada doit envisager d’élargir certains éléments de son Programme des travailleurs étrangers temporaires, particulièrement en ce qui a trait aux programmes des employeurs de confiance et à l’expansion des professions couvertes par le Volet des talents mondiaux. Tout au long du printemps et au début de l’été, le CERC accueil- lera des symposiums sur l’immigration à Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto et Montréal. J’espère que vous aurez l’occasion de vous joindre à nous. Cordialement, Stephen Cryne Président et chef de la direction, CERC 10 PERSPECTIVES Spring 2019