By Jasminee Sahoye

A two-day event aimed at exploring the future of Canada’s immigration system will take place April 13-14 at the Fairmont Château Laurier in Ottawa, hosted by the Conference Board’s National Immigration Centre.

The Canadian Immigration Summit 2015 hopes to tap into major stakeholders from across Canada’s immigration system who will share the latest research findings, unique insights and perspectives.

The goal is to contribute to the development of a National Immigration Action Plan for Canada, which will modernize and enhance policies and programs to sustain Canada’s competitive position as a preferred destination for the world’s top talent.

Participants will share their views and participate in interactive discussions and consultation sessions to identify challenges and innovative solutions. The views expressed will be used in the development of the plan which will offer recommended actions to build an internationally competitive national immigration system for Canada.

Workshops include a look at the federal-provincial immigration department dynamics, reforming immigration to better suit skilled trades and topics of licensure and integration.

Leaders in the immigration sector and government from across Canada will be present, including Kelly Pollack, executive director, Immigrant Employment Council of British Columbia, Ratna Omidvar, executive director, global diversity exchange, Ted Rogers School of Management at Ryerson University and Zubeida Ramji, executive director, CARE Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses.

There will also be a post-summit workshop on the new Express Entry system which will be led by Citizenship and Immigration Canada and two of Canada’s leading immigration lawyers, David Cohen and Stephen Green.