Bio:Parvez Akhtar is a 46-year-old mechanical engineer from Bangladesh. He was recognized as an engineer in training by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) and is attending a bridging program at Ryerson University. He has lived in Toronto since August 2006 and is working towards his Professional Engineering (P.Eng) license.

My take:
I applied in January 2001 to immigrate to Canada.

But because of all the changing rules, I wasn't able to make it here until August 2006. With my education and previous work experience, the job hunt was a hard ride. I was never invited for an interview. And settling in a new country with family was really tough. Money was flooding out instead of dropping in. Being helpless, I took a security job to pay the bills; and then I worked for about two years at Celestica Inc. as a functional test operator. I evaluated certificates from the U of T and started working on P.Eng licence. I have about 15 years' experience in aviation, which would not work here. I must work under the supervision of a P.Eng for at least one year.

With my experience and education, the experience review committee said I was qualified to be an engineer in training and I did not need to take any more courses. Now I am applying for internships with different provincial/city offices, corporations, manufacturing plants, but I have yet to get a call. Just to better myself and my chances, I enrolled in Ryersonís Internationally-Educated Engineers Qualification Bridging (IEEQB) Program.

I understood it would take time to get a job in my profession. But one thing I contemplate is, where is the barrier? Why is it that immigrants are allowed to migrate here using the point system, but then Canadian employers are reluctant to invite the migrating professionals for interviews? Are the immigrants misfit for the existing corporate culture?

Shouldn't the government tidy up the backyard? Itís difficult to draw a conclusion.

Since government controls immigration, it should open more internship positions in offices of federal government, provincial government, city offices and subsidized offices, instead of spending money on so-called "job finding clubs."

Some immigrants have already left Canada with a Canadian passport. They will return for treatment when they retire. How do they contribute to the economy?

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