No not compulsory, but highly recommended. Being well informed is better. I'd share this anecdote which happened 2-3 months ago.
During one of the outreach programmes of the Phil Embassy here (passport renewal, document authentication. NBI etc.), I got a chance to talk to one of the staff of the NGOs handing this programme. Kapwa Pinoy din, and he has been travelling back and forth between PH and Canada. He mentioned that the CIIP is free and is provided to all immigrants. The Canadian government has identified a disparity in the number of immigrants vs those who are successful in settling and integrating into the society. This is one of the reasons for the CIIP programme - a partnership between NGOs and the Canadian Government. The CIIP programme has been running for quite a few years and has been very successful in cutting back the length of time of successful integration to the workforce of immigrants and have them on the path to good careers (proper job match). Except in the cases of some of our kababayans. Sad to say, he mentioned sadyang medyo matitigas daw ang ulo natin, and nauunahan pa tayo ng ibang lahi to move forward with their carreers because they take full advantage of the linkages and programmes offered under/advised under the CIIP. Mas naniniwala pa daw tayo sa mga nauna na dito (elder generation) on how to settle in Canada and "settle" on following " now outdated" ways and means in "making it here" inspite of new programmes available to new immigrants. On their programme data - immigrants from other countries with lesser language skills get jobs, update to other jobs, and climb up the workforce much faster than us - sayang lang ang language advantage. Mas receptive pa ang mga ibang lahi to new ideas and all information available to immigrants rather than us, their data shows. The key is to integrate to Canadian society - you can't just keep to your fellow kababayans when you come here. Keep your values, but unlearn your ingrained habits, and leave all your home-grown patterns in the PH - this is a new country, and you have to adapt.
On the CIIP program and the other seminars aside from providing you with information on current trends in the Canadian marketplace etc., use the opportunity to know and interact with fellow immigrants coming to the same location as you are so you start your support network there. Fellow first-time immigrants coming to the same location/province becomes your initial crutch during the early periods of settlement and shared experiences strengthen all of you.
/...atb
