World Skills Navigates Funding Cuts: Adapting to Continue Supporting Newcomers

At World Skills Employment Centre, our mission has always been to empower newcomers by providing the tools, resources, and support they need to succeed in the Canadian job market. However, like many non-profit organizations, we have recently faced significant funding cuts that will impact some of our programs and services. While this is a challenging time, we remain committed to finding new ways to support our clients and ensure they continue to receive high quality employment services.

Program Updates due to Funding Changes

Ottawa Newcomer Entrepreneur Hub (ONE Hub)

After March 31, 2025, the ONE Hub program will no longer be offered. Since its launch in April 2020, this program has played a vital role in helping immigrant entrepreneurs navigate the business landscape in Ottawa. While we will no longer provide entrepreneurship-specific services, World Skills will continue to support ONE Hub clients with job search assistance and career development resources.

As a legacy project, ONE Hub has developed a free, public online training series focused on foundational entrepreneurial skills. Fourteen self-guided video modules covering key aspects of starting a business in Ottawa will be available soon on the World Skills’ website E-Learning Menu.

Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program

The FIN Program, which we delivered in partnership with IRCC, will also conclude on March 31, 2025. Initially launched by IRCC (then CIC) in 2010, this program has supported over 1,000 newcomers in securing temporary employment with federal government departments and the City of Ottawa. While this initiative will not receive renewed funding, World Skills remains committed to engaging with public sector employers and providing job search support and guidance for newcomers who aspire to build careers in the Canadian public service.

An online self-guided course titled “Exploring a career in the Canadian Public Service” is currently available on the World Skills’ website E-Learning Menu, as well as a downloadable comprehensive “Public Service Career Guide” in PDF format in our resources section.

Workplace Language Training (WLT) Program

The following changes to the WLT program will also take effect:

• After March 31, 2025, language courses for newcomers with CLB 7+ will no longer be offered. For over 15 years, this program has helped thousands of internationally trained professionals refine their communication skills, boosting their confidence in workplace interactions, professional writing, and public speaking.
• We will continue to offer courses for eligible newcomers with CLB 5-6 this fiscal year (2024-2025); however, they will not be available beyond August 2026.
• Beginning in September 2026, our WLT program will only provide language training for eligible newcomers with CLB 3-4, ensuring that those who are at an earlier stage in their language journey receive support to improve their communication skills.

Looking Ahead

Most of these changes will take effect starting April 1, 2025. Despite these challenges, World Skills remains dedicated to exploring new funding opportunities and working with our community and employer partners to continue providing high-impact employment services.

It’s important to note, that most of our programs and services will continue to be available, we encourage our partners and all stakeholders to browse our website to learn more. Some of our flagship programs include the Job Search Workshop (JSW), Career Access for Newcomers (CAN), Empowering Racialized Newcomer Women (ERNW), Corporate Mentorship, Credential Recognition Program (CRP), among others.

We extend our gratitude to our funders and corporate sponsors for their generous support and contributions, as well as to our employer partners for their continued and long-standing engagement in helping us connect immigrants to meaningful employment.

To our community partners, we believe that by working together, we can continue to find innovative solutions to maintain and enhance the essential programs that support internationally trained professionals’ successful integration into the Canadian labour force.

Stay Connected

If you have questions or would like to know how you can support our work, please reach out to us at ws@ottawa-worldskills.org.

Thank you for your continued support as we navigate these changes and work toward sustaining the services that make a difference in the lives of newcomers.