Canadian auto industry offers Ukrainian refugees immediate jobs

Canada’s automotive provide business is providing jobs to Ukrainians fleeing Russia’s invasion of their nation.

Flavio Volpe, head of the Canadian Automotive Elements Producers’ Affiliation (APMA), issued the decision in a tweet posted Thursday morning, telling refugees looking for safety to achieve out to his group.

“There’s a proud heritage of Ukrainians in automotive in Canada, so we mentioned, ‘let’s go,’” Volpe mentioned in a telephone interview with Automotive Information Canada. “We’ve bought various board members who’ve mentioned, ‘we’d like individuals. If you wish to be energetic right here, and invite these individuals, we are going to activate our [Human Resources] departments to answer match-making.’ 

“So we put it on the market.”

Volpe mentioned even earlier than his public callout, seven members — from Windsor, Ont. to Vaughn, Ont. — reached out to the APMA unsolicited, saying they might rent Ukrainians instantly.

He mentioned regardless of the very fact the APMA has its personal packages that companion with the federal government “about onboarding individuals from weak communities,” and its personal digital studying platform, its members are nonetheless staring down a labour scarcity.

Greater than 700,000 Canadians working in expert trades alone are set to retire by 2028, in keeping with a current report by RBC. Statistics Canada in February reported that there have been 73,900 vacant positions in manufacturing in December.

“We’ve a labour scarcity,” Volpe mentioned. “We nonetheless don’t have sufficient Canadians to fill the roles we’ve.

“We’re prepared to coach individuals.”

Volpe mentioned hiring Ukrainian immigrants doesn’t require any new program or assets in both the privater or public sector.

“The immigration guidelines are what they’re, they usually enable for very brief integration the place there are shortages.

Volpe mentioned he and his members are spreading the message by way of “our companions at International Affairs, Overseas Service and thru the Commerce Commissioner Service.” They’re additionally reaching out to members of Parliament.

“Lots of people who constructed the Canadian auto business got here from Japanese European and work with their fingers, had been entrepreneurs,” Volpe mentioned. 

He mentioned they “can instantly relate” to the present scenario.

Linamar Corp., headed by Linda Hasenfratz, is a type of executives and a type of corporations.

It mentioned earlier this week that it’s going to work with the Canadian Ukrainian Basis to sponsor Ukrainian refugees to come back to Canada and supply them employment on the world provider, based mostly in Guelph, Ont.

“Our founder Frank Hasenfratz left Hungary in 1956 after having taken up arms as a freedom fighter in Hungary,” the corporate mentioned in a press release. “In honour of his life and the Ukrainian individuals, Linamar Corp. is matching donations made by our workers to the Canada Ukraine Basis (CUF) in assist of the humanitarian efforts in Ukraine.”

Normal Motors Canada says it is going to match worker donations made to the Canada-Ukraine Basis, as much as $20,000.

“We all know many GM Canada workers have been personally impacted by the battle, as Canada has the third largest Ukrainian inhabitants exterior Russia and Ukraine,” the automaker mentioned in a press release.

Normal Motors in the USA is responding to the humanitarian disaster in Ukraine by making a $250,000 greenback grant to The Worldwide Rescue Committee.

In the meantime, Unifor, the union representing hundreds of Canadians within the auto elements and meeting sectors, has donated $150,000 to assist the Crimson Cross.

Overseas Affairs Minister Melanie Joly mentioned Wednesday that Canada is working carefully with the United Nations Excessive Commissioner for Refugees all through japanese Europe to seek out methods to get refugees to Canada after negotiating secure passage agreements. She mentioned Worldwide Improvement Minister Harjit Sajjan was speaking to the UN refugee company to co-ordinate Canada’s response.

“These conversations are taking place,” Joly mentioned. “However on the identical time, we have to do issues nicely.”

Already, greater than two million refugees have fled Ukraine — with greater than half heading to neighbouring Poland — and much more anticipated to reach within the days forward. Poland has taken in practically 1.5 million refugees since Russia invaded Ukraine final month.

Deputy Prime Minister Chrystia Freeland, who’s of Ukrainian descent, mentioned when she sees the pictures of the carnage popping out of Ukraine, “I’ve to cease taking a look at them.”

The Canadian Press contributed to this report.