Accessible:

Easy to obtain or use.

The Recognition Counts program was developed to provide accessible loans to newcomers who need money to get Canadian qualifications for the skilled jobs they did in their home countries.

Affiliate(d):

This word can be used as a(n):

1. noun:

   an organization that is a member of a larger organization.

2. verb:

   to closely connect (something or yourself) with or to something (such as a program or organization) as a member or partner.

3. adjective (affiliated):

   an organization that is a member of a larger organization.

1. The Recognition Counts program has affiliates in other provinces.
2. The medical school is affiliated with several hospitals.
3. The association provides information on affiliated agencies.

Allocate(d):

To divide and give out (something) for a special reason or to particular people, places, etc.

When making a budget, you need to carefully allocate your income to make sure it covers all your necessary expenses.

Authority:

This word has several meanings; the one we use for Recognition Counts is:

• The power to give orders or make decisions; the power or right to direct or control someone or something.

In Manitoba the regulators of the individual trades have the authority to decide what level of skill is needed to do that job.

Annual Interest Rate:

The interest rate paid on a loan expressed as the percentage paid for one year; also referred to as APR (annual percentage rate), the rate at which interest on a loan is calculated over the period of a year.

If the annual interest rate on my $10,000 loan is 5% and I don't make any principal payments for the first year, my interest will cost me
($10,000 x 5% = $500) for the year which is $41.67 per month.

Apprentice:

A person who learns a job or skill by working for a fixed period of time for someone who is very good at that job or skill.

My brother was an apprentice for four years and then had to write exams to become an electrician.

Apprenticeship:

There are two meanings for this word:

1. the period of time when a person is an apprentice;
2. a position as an apprentice.

The apprenticeship period for electricians is between two and four years.

Assessment:

A process in which you make a judgment about a person or situation, or the judgment you make.

The Recognition Counts program requires many assessments such as your English language level, your credentials and your creditworthiness.

Asset(s):

This word is used in two ways.

1. Things you own that can be sold or included when calculating your net worth.
2. Things of value such as a person's education or a company's good name in the industry.

1. My personal assets include a new car and $2,000 in my savings account.
2. The experience and education I received in my home country are assets that will help me find a job in Canada.

Bankruptcy:

A legal situation where a person or business is unable to pay their debts, works with a professional (trustee in bankruptcy) to settle available payment to creditors and must follow certain legal guidelines.

When a person declares bankruptcy, collection activity for debts owed by that person is stopped but access to loans in future will be difficult.

Bridging Program:

Programs that help internationally educated newcomers gain access to the education, training and work experience they need to prepare for licensing exams and find jobs appropriate to their previous training and education.

Manitoba has several bridging programs that are available at post-secondary institutions, like Red River College, who have the nursing bridging program, and the University of Manitoba, who have the engineering bridging program.

Budget:

This word is used as (1) a noun, and (2) a verb in SEED programs.

1. noun:

   The money that is available to an organization or person, or a plan of how it will be spent.

2. verb:

   To carefully plan and control how much money you spend and what you will buy with it.

1. The budget for our truck is $5,000; we will not pay more than that.
2. I budgeted very carefully and I think the cost for tuition fees, books and living expenses while I go to school to complete my qualifications in Manitoba will be $8,000.

Career Action Plan:

A written document that identifies your education, experience, present employment, plans and preparation for getting Canadian employment in the field that you are trained in.

Recognition Counts requires each applicant to provide a Career Action Plan approved by a referring partner.

Cash Flow:

The movement of money coming in and going out.

Part of the planning process for Recognition Counts is to determine when you need money and to prepare a cash flow disbursement schedule so the funds can be deposited to your account when you need them.

Category:

A group of people or things that are of the same type.

In your budget, both rent and heating costs belong in the category of housing costs.

Challenge:

This word has several meanings; for Recognition Counts we use:

• something that will make things more difficult;
• something to overcome in order to succeed;
• a problem.

Finding a good place to live is one of the many challenges newcomers have when they move to Winnipeg.

Character Based Loan:

Lending Institutions, usually credit unions and banks, lend money by evaluating the applicant based on several factors (called the five Cs of credit and defined in this guide). Some loans are evaluated based mainly on the character (one of the five Cs) of the applicant. This makes loan approval easier for many newcomers.

Recognition Counts loans are character based loans and therefore less information and proof of income, personal net worth or collateral are needed to be approved for a loan.

Collection:

This word has several meanings. We have two meanings in this guide.

1. the act of obtaining money that is owed to you, usually because the debtor has not paid the money back the way he/she promised to repay.
2. an adjective to describe a particular organization that specializes in collecting money that is owed and not repaid as agreed.

1. The collection agency told us they would report the collection to the credit bureau if we did not pay our late payments by the end of the month.
2. The loan agreement says that the loan will be sent for collection if you miss 2 payments in a row.

Competent:

There are several meanings for this word; the one we use for Recognition Counts is:

• having enough skill or knowledge to do something to a satisfactory standard.

The government regulates many professions and skills to ensure the people doing the jobs are competent.

Component:

One of the parts of something (such as a system or mixture); an important piece of something.

The interview is a key component in the hiring process.

Confirmed:

This word has several meanings; the way we use it for Recognitions Counts! is:

• made sure something has definitely happened or is going to happen.

He confirmed the amount of the deposit by comparing it to his paystub.

Credentials:

This word has two meanings:

1. the qualities, skills, or experience that make a person suited to do a job;
2. a document which shows that a person is qualified to do a particular job.

1. Newcomers need proof of their credentials to have their qualifications recognized for work in Canada.
2. Many professionals display their credentials on their office walls.

Credit:

This can mean two things for Recognition Counts:

1. money borrowed;
2. how well the business repaid any money borrowed.

1. We will obtain credit from the Assiniboine Credit Union.
2. Our credit is good; we paid every loan payment on time.

Credit Bureau:

The agency or place that holds information about the credit history and payment records of individuals and companies.

Banks and credit unions provide information to the credit bureau.

Credit Check:

A review of a person's or company's borrowing history.

The credit union did a credit check on me when I applied for my loan.

Credit Limit:

In financial institutions, this term is used to explain the maximum lending amount for the loan or line of credit.

The credit limit on my Recognition Counts line of credit is $10,000 and my current balance is $4,000 so I have more than enough room left on my credit limit to pay for my tuition cost of $3000.

Credit Rating:

A judgement, sometimes represented by a score, made by a bank or other company about how likely a person or business is to pay their debts.

It is very hard to get a loan if you have not established a good credit rating by borrowing money and repaying on time.

Creditworthy / Creditworthiness:

Considered able to repay borrowed money.

Every person who applies for a Path to Employment Loan at Assiniboine Credit Union will be assessed for creditworthiness.

Current Balance:

The amount that is outstanding (remains) right now in a bank account or on a loan or line of credit.

The current balance on my line of credit is $4,000 but after I use it to pay for my tuition I will have a balance of $7,000.

Disbursement:

To pay out (money) from a fund that has been created for a special purpose.

You will be asked to fill out a Disbursement Instructions Form for your Path to Employment Loan so Assiniboine Credit Union will know when and where to pay out the loan proceeds.

EI / Employment Insurance:

The abbreviation for a federal government program called Employment Insurance. EI provides income for a short time to individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own (for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs).

If you are collecting EI, one of the requirements is that you are able and available to work, so if you want to get training while you are collecting EI, you must get permission from your EI worker first.

EIA / Employment Income Assistance:

The abbreviation for a provincial government program called Employment and Income Assistance that provides income for a short time to individuals who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own (for example, due to shortage of work, seasonal or mass lay-offs).

Recognition Counts participants that are receiving EIA cannot use the loan to cover living expenses.

ETT:

The abbreviation for a provincial government department called Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade.

ETT operates Employment Manitoba Centres which are a referring partner for the Recognition Counts program.

Expense:

There are several meanings for this word; the meaning we use for Recognition Counts is:

• an amount of money that must be spent to pay for something, especially regularly.

When you are recording your expenses for the Recognition Counts application, make sure you include all your monthly loan payments, utility bills and any money you send back home on a regular basis.

Financial Literacy:

Knowledge of the way money works and the ability to make appropriate decisions in managing personal finances.

Many people do not learn financial literacy at home or school so training classes and TV shows that help adults learn how to manage their money have become popular.

Financial Plan:

A series of steps, which often includes a budget for spending and saving future income, used to accomplish a goal regarding money.

A financial plan made up according to your career plan will help you determine when you will need the money from your Path to Employment Loan because most people don't need the money all at once.

Fixed Rate:

In financial institutions this means an interest rate on a loan, deposit or investment that will remain at the same level for a specific period of time (term).

A Path to Employment Loan at Assiniboine Credit Union is not a fixed rate loan; the interest rate will change if the prime rate changes.

Framework:

The basic structure of something, a set of ideas or facts that provide support for something.

We will decide on the framework for the project at the next meeting.

Funding:

Money that is provided by an organization for a particular purpose.

The federal and provincial governments have provided funding for the Recognition Counts program.

Gross Income:

Income before taxes and other deductions are subtracted.

My paystub shows my gross income was $525 but the net amount deposited to my account was only $450 after all taxes, Canada Pension Plan and Employment Insurance and health care insurance payments came off.

Grounded:

There are two meanings for this word; the one we use for Recognition Counts is:

• Description for a person who is sensible and has a good understanding of what is really important in life.

She comes from a very grounded family.

Household:

The people in a family or other group that are living together in one house.

Many households have at least one computer.

Household Income:

The amount of income coming in to a household from any source. For Recognition Counts a household is considered any persons, often related, who share (not split) a place to live and expenses.

Our children's incomes are considered part of our household income.

Income:

Money that is earned or given to you from work, investments, business, government, etc.

SEED programs are for individuals on low incomes and newcomers who have to quit their employment to study full time.

Identity:

This word has two meanings:

1. The qualities, beliefs, etc., that make a particular person or group different from others.
2. Who someone is; the name of a person.

1. She did not want to be known only as the wife of her husband. She insisted on having her own identity.
2. The identity of the criminal/victim is not known.

Influence:

This word has three meanings:

1. noun:

   The power to change or affect someone or something; the power to cause changes without directly forcing them to happen.

2. noun:

   A person or thing that affects someone or something in an important way.

3. verb:

   To affect the way someone or something develops, behaves, thinks etc. without directly forcing or ordering them.

1. His parents still have a great deal of influence over him.
2. The decision was affected by outside influences.
3. You can influence how future programs will be designed by providing comments in the evaluation forms.

Initiative:

There are several meanings for this word; two are important for Recognition Counts:

1. The ability or desire to take action or make decisions without waiting for someone to tell you what to do.
2. An important new plan or process to achieve a particular aim or to solve a particular problem.

1. In the Canadian workplace, workers are expected to take initiative. If you wait for someone to tell you what to do, it may look like you are lazy.
2. Recognition Counts is a new initiative.

Intended:

This word has several meanings; in Recognition Counts we use it as an adjective which means:

• in your mind as a purpose or goal.

Jamila's intended profession is civil engineering.

Journeyperson / Journeyman:

A skilled worker whose work experience and training meet the requirements in a designated trade and who holds a Certificate of Qualification from an apprenticeship authority.

My sister is a journeyperson electrician; it took her about 5 years to learn the job and pass all of the exams to get her certification.

Labour Market:

The people looking for work and the jobs that are available at that time.

Employment counsellors are sometimes called labour market specialists.

Liability:

There are several meanings for this word; for Recognition Counts we use:

• money you owe to businesses, the government or individuals.

The outstanding amount of a loan, past due bills or income taxes are considered liabilities, but monthly rent and utility payments are considered expenses.

Line Of Credit:

Money borrowed in a particular way that has a maximum limit, can be repaid and borrowed again as long as a minimum monthly payment is made.

Our line of credit is very convenient and has a lower interest rate than our credit card.

Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Two-Spirited, Questioning:

These are terms that relate to defining one's sexual identity (note: two-spirited is the translation for an aboriginal term which has a broader definition than defined in this word guide).

Identifying yourself as lesbian, gay, bisexual, two-spirited or questioning on forms is optional.

Living Allowance / Living Expenses:

The amount of money needed to pay rent, food, utility bills, day care and other expenses that you normally pay from your income.

Your Path to Employment Loan can be used to pay a living allowance if you go back to school for upgrading.

Loan Fees:

Amounts charged by a lender in addition to the interest paid on a loan.

Assiniboine Credit Union does not have any loan fees for Recognition Counts loans.

Mentor:

This word can be used as a noun or verb:

1. noun:

   someone who teaches or gives help and advice to a less experienced and often younger person.

2. verb:

   to teach or give advice or guidance to someone, such as a less experienced person or a child.

1. My mentor had been with the company for 15 years and was an immigrant so she knew many things would be different from the way we did them back home.
2. He mentors all the new managers because he has the most experience and was very good at explaining things.

Mentoring Program:

A system where people with a lot of experience and knowledge advise and help other people at work or preparing for work.

When I became a manager my company provided a mentoring program where a senior manager helped me learn how to plan and make decisions according to the company's unwritten rules.

Minimum Monthly Payment:

A monthly payment, based on the outstanding balance of a credit card or line of credit, that must be paid by a certain due date.

The minimum monthly payment on my credit card changes each month and is calculated at 3% of the balance at the time of my statement.

Net Income:

Income after taxes and other deductions are subtracted.

Sam was surprised when his net income was only $475 because he didn't realize that income taxes and other deductions were taken off his gross income of $550.

Net Worth:

The amount left after an individual or company's liabilities are subtracted from assets (positive net worth). If liabilities are higher than asset, the individual or company will have a negative net worth.

Many recent university graduates have a negative net worth because they have student loans and were not able to save any money while they went to school.

Occupation:

There are several meanings for the word; for Recognition Counts We use:

• the work that a person does;
• a person's job or profession.

When I grew up, nursing was the most widely chosen occupation for women; now there are many more men doing that job.

Overdraw(n):

To withdraw more money from an account at a bank or credit union than is available.

My account was overdrawn by $100 because I forgot to record a withdrawal I made and wrote a cheque for more than I had in my account.

Path to Employment Loan:

A special loan offered only at Assiniboine Credit Union specifically for newcomers in the Recognition Counts program.

A Path to Employment Loan at Assiniboine Credit Union has special repayment arrangements that are not offered for other loans.

Penalty:

There are several meanings for this word; for Recognition Counts we use:

• a punishment for breaking a law, rule or legal agreement.

Some credit card companies charge a late payment penalty of $25.00 if you make your payment after the due date.

Personal Reference(s):

A person (not an organization) who provides information about your character and abilities.

My neighbour and my teacher agreed that I could use them as my personal references.

Pilot Program:

A program (a plan of things that are done in order to achieve a specific result) that is being tested or tried to see if it works.

Recognition Counts is a pilot program that may be continued if participants have good success in finding work in their related fields.

Policy:

A way of doing something that has been officially agreed upon and chosen by a political party, business, or other organization.

Our human resource policies are available for review at any time.

Post-Secondary Institution:

A place, school, or organization that provides education after you have finished high school.

Sometimes post-secondary institutions like universities provide grants or bursaries to students that have excellent grades.

Prime Rate:

The lowest interest rate that financial institutions will give to people who borrow money from them (also called prime or prime interest rate). This rate is set depending on what the Bank of Canada's prime rate (defined in this guide) is, and variable rate loans to customers are then based on prime rate plus an additional percentage rate.

Recognition Counts loan rates are set at prime plus 2%.

Principal:

This word has 2 meanings; for Recognition Counts we use:

• an amount of money that is put in a bank or lent to someone and that can earn interest; the original amount of money that is lent to someone, not including any of the interest.

The principal amount borrowed was $10,000 but the interest cost increased the amount owing to $10,041.67 after one month.

Profession:

A type of job that needs a high level of education, training or skill.

My son's profession is nursing.

Professional Association:

A group formed to control entry, maintain standards and represent the profession with other groups.

Many professions require the people working in that profession be part of a professional association and often there are fees for membership.

Proficiency:

How good you are at doing something.

English proficiency is often rated based on four areas: speaking, listening, reading and writing.

Program:

This word has several meanings; for Recognition Counts we use:

• a plan of things that need to be done in order to achieve a specific result, such as a course of study, a group of classes or meetings, or a plan of action.

Some companies have set up mentoring programs for new employees to learn how things are done in that company.

Proof of Income:

A document such as a pay stub or letter that will confirm the amount of money you have said is coming into your household.

Recognition Counts is responsible for obtaining proof of income from all participants to ensure the low income cut off limits are met.

Qualifications:

Special skills or types of experience or knowledge that makes someone suitable to do a particular job or activity.

Many newcomers have job qualifications they don't use in Manitoba because the process to get their skills and experience recognized in Manitoba is difficult.

Qualification Recognition:

The process that internationally trained and educated immigrants and refugees must go through so they can have their training outside of Canada accepted as valid and then use that experience and education for employment in Canada.

Qualification recognition can be a difficult and expensive process for many newcomers.

Record high:

The highest historical level reached.

Housing sales reached a record high in 2008.

Red Seal:

A trademark symbol used to indicate qualification of tradespersons at the journeyperson level, which is recognized by all the provinces; the Red Seal allows the holder to work anywhere in Canada without having to write further examinations.

He had his Red Seal and that meant he didn't have to write any tests to show his competency when he moved from Ontario to Manitoba.

Referring Partners / Referring Agency / Referral Partners:

Organizations, mostly employment counsellor firms, which can approve a Career Action Plan for individuals applying for the Recognition Counts! program.

Success Skills Centre is a referral partner for the Recognition Counts program.

Registration:

This word has several meanings; for Recognition Counts we use:

• the act or process of recording names and details on an official list.

Many people learn about registration requirements for their profession before they move to Manitoba.

Regulatory Body:

A public authority or government agency responsible for ensuring a particular activity follows the rules or laws established for that activity.

The Regulatory body for nursing in Manitoba is the College of Registered Nurses of Manitoba.

Regulated Profession / Regulated Trade:

Some professions and trades are regulated (need to follow set rules) in Canada to protect public health and safety. That means that you must have a licence or certificate to work in these professions and trades.

In Canada, regulated professions such as nurses and electricians are controlled by organizations called regulatory bodies that follow provincial rules, which means if you move to another province, you will have to register with the regulatory body in that province.

Reimbursement:

To pay money back to someone when their money has been spent or lost.

Recognition Counts program loan funds can be used for reimbursement of fees for registration or tuition for qualification recognition that you paid before your approval for the program.

Relevant:

Directly relating to the subject being discussed or considered.

A training program relevant to the accounting field is the CGA (Certified General Accountant) program.

Repayment:

When you pay back money that you have borrowed.

Repayment on the principal amount of your loan does not start until six months after you complete your Career Action Plan but interest costs must be paid monthly.

Self-employed:

Earning income from your own business or profession rather than by working for someone else.

He decided to become self-employed and run his own firm rather than accept the offer to work for the biggest law firm in the city.

Soft skills:

In the workplace, this refers to desirable qualities that are not technical such as people's abilities to communicate with each other and work well together and includes things like common sense, a positive attitude, conflict management, and team building.

In Canada, employers often believe soft skills are more important than hard skills (the things an employee learned at school) because it is easy to train employees technical things but quite difficult to teach employees how to work well together.

Stakeholder:

A person, business, organization or government that has invested money into something or that has an important connection with it and will be affected by its success or failure.

There are many stakeholders in the Recognition Counts program.

Structured:

The word structure is both a noun and a verb; for Recognition Counts we use the verb (structured):

• arranged or organized in a particular way.

The program is structured to make sure the participants get help when they need it the most.

Supplementary:

Added to what already exists.

I took some supplementary training in cost accounting after I finished my accounting degree.

Term of Loan:

(Note: This definition is for the Recognition Counts program and can have a different meaning for other financial products) The maximum amount of time the loan is allowed to have a balance (be outstanding), from the date the loan is opened to the date the loan is paid off in full.

Recognition Counts Loans have a 5 year (60 months) term. That five-year term starts at the time the loan is disbursed and inlcudes interest only and principal and interest periods.

Think tank:

A group of people with experience or knowledge of a particular subject who work to produce ideas and give advice.

We formed a think tank to develop the program.

Trade:

This word has several meanings. For Recognition Counts we use:

• a job that requires special training and skills and that is done by using your hands.

Hairdressing is a trade that Lily learned back home and she was surprised she would have to learn Manitoba guidelines before she could do that job in Winnipeg.

Transgender:

A term used by people who feel they do not fit into the traditional definition of male or female gender. Some identify as transgender because they have been born with a body – either female or male – that they feel does not match their true sense of self. Others identify as transgender because they feel that the categories female and male are too limiting and do not describe them.

Many application forms have added the word transgender so people have a choice other than male or female when describing themselves.

Un-discharged Bankruptcy:

A bankruptcy that is still being handled legally by a trustee in bankruptcy. During this time, the person or organization that declared bankruptcy must do several things and provide certain information. Once all the necessary actions are complete, the bankruptcy will be discharged (completed).

A person in an un-discharged bankruptcy cannot apply for credit of more than $1000.

Unregulated Profession / Trade:

A profession or trade that does not require its members to belong to a regulatory body or pass certain qualifications to do the job.

Information technology (IT) is an example of an unregulated profession or trade and engineering is an example of a regulated profession or trade.

Upgrade / upgrading:

To make (something) better by including the most recent information or improvements.

Professionals that have not had work in their fields for a few years may need upgrading to learn the latest information.

Utility bills:

Expenses (usually monthly) for services provided to the public, usually related to your household.

Telephone, heating, cable and water bills are all examples of utility bills.

Variable rate loans:

A type of loan that has an interest that will change when the prime rate changes.

Path to Employment Loans offered to Recognition Counts participants are variable rate loans offered at Prime plus 2%. That means that if ACU's prime rate is 3% your Path to Employment Loan will have an interest rate of 5% but if the prime rate increases to 3½% the loan rate will increase to 5½%.

Vary:

This word has two meanings:

• to change or be different;
• to make something different.

• The interest cost will vary with changes in the prime rate.
• The Bank of Canada decides when to vary prime.

Visible Minority

Recognition Counts uses the federal definition for visible minority: Persons, other than Aboriginal peoples, who are non-Caucasian in race or non-white in colour.

The Recognition Counts application form asks you to identify if you are a visible minority; it is not necessary to fill in a response but it will help the program collect statistics.

Verify:

To prove, show, find out, or state that (something) is true or correct.

You will have to provide a paystub to verify the amount of income you claim.

Workshop:

A meeting at which people try to improve their skills by discussing their experiences and doing practical exercises.

The workshop on understanding taxes in Canada was really helpful.