Canadian officials: Pinoys valued highly in Yukon

MANILA, Philippines - Filipinos are "highly valued" in the Canadian territory of Yukon, Canadian officials told visiting RP envoys there last September. An article on the Department of Foreign Affairs website Friday night said the Philippine officials learned of this during a visit to Yukon from Sept. 18 to 21. "The Filipino community and the government of Yukon have a good relationship that we want to build on," the DFA article quoted Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie as telling the Filipino officials at a breakfast meeting. At the time, Philippine ambassador to Canada Jose Brillantes, Minister and Consul General Joseph Gerard Angeles and Consul Rhenita Rodriguez, visited Whitehorse for an outreach mission. They had planned to touch base with the 500-strong Filipino community in Yukon. Brillantes' team was also there to explore a memorandum of understanding (MOU) on labor, employment and human resource deployment between the Philippines and the Yukon territory and to address labor and immigration-related concerns of OFWs in these areas. During the breakfast meeting with Fentie, Brillantes thanked him for taking care of the Filipinos who have chosen to make Yukon their home. "The Premier responded by saying that Yukon wants to further encourage the immigration of Filipinos to Yukon and credited the Filipino community for helping Yukon build its future," the DFA said. Fentie was also enthusiastic about the idea of an MOU on the facilitation of the entry of Filipino workers into Yukon. "We are keenly interested in the MOU process, as Yukon needs skilled tradesmen, professionals such as nurses and doctors and workers for the service sector," he said. He added the MOU will be mutually beneficial for the territory and the Philippine government. Fentie also praised Filipinos in Yukon for quickly integrating into the community. "Filipinos brought something special to Yukon, which is recognized by employers and the community at large," he said. The delegation met with Education Minister Patrick Rouble, who is also in charge of labor and immigration for the territory. Rouble informed the delegation that Fentie had already given him instructions to work on an MOU between Yukon and the Philippines that will identify labor demands and be more responsive to the needs of both parties. "Filipinos are making a tremendous contribution to the community. It's great to see them becoming an integral part of our community," Rouble said. Rouble cited a specific example of what he called the outstanding work ethic of Filipinos, particularly the Whitehorse store of Canadian Tire Corp., the leading hard goods retailer in Canada with more than 450 stores across Canada. The firm in 2007 hired 23 Filipinos who have missed only seven days of work since their employment with the company. Rouble said Yukon wants to see a significant influx of Filipinos into the territory's hospitality, tourism, health care and gas pipelines industries. The delegation also met with Minister for Economic Development Jim Kenyon, who described Filipino workers in Yukon as "very educated and very hardworking." "Yukon values the Filipino community, as they have made important contributions to Yukon," added Speaker of the Yukon Legislative Assembly Ted Staffen who hosted a lunch reception for the delegation at the ballroom of High Country Inn. - GMANews.TV