HALIFAX, Aug. 21, 2013 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is helping internationally trained workers overcome financial barriers to getting their credentials recognized so that they can find jobs at their skill level as quickly as possible. The announcement was made today in Halifax by the Honourable Candice Bergen, Minister of State (Social Development), on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism.
"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Minister of State Bergen. "Delivered in partnership with Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services, microloans will help internationally trained professionals get their credentials recognized so they can put their skills and experience to work faster."
Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services received over $1 million to provide 125 loans through the Foreign Credential Recognition Loan Pilot Project. The pilot project provides loans to help newcomers and Canadians trained abroad cover the costs of having their credentials recognized so they can find jobs in their fields more quickly. For many, the cost of licensing, exams, training and skills upgrading presents a significant challenge to credential recognition.
"Our government remains focused on economic growth and ensuring that all Canadians are able to contribute to their maximum capacity," said Minister Kenney. "We are working with local partners and provinces to help Canadian and internationally trained professionals find jobs in their fields and contribute fully to Canada's economy as soon as possible."
To date, microloans have helped close to 700 internationally trained professionals, for a total of approximately $5 million.
"Too many newcomers and Canadians with international training are doing jobs that are far below their real abilities," said the Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada. "That is why local organizations like Immigrant Settlement & Integration Services play such an important role in helping immigrants integrate both socially and economically here in the Halifax area."
"The Career Pathway Loan Fund is a concrete way to support internationally trained professionals in their efforts to bridge into their career," said Claudette Legault, Director of Programs and Services at ISIS. "Being able to borrow money to prepare for an exam to become qualified in their fields can speed up the process or reduce the financial stress."
The Government of Canada introduced the Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Loans Pilot in 2011, helping internationally trained workers offset the costs of the foreign credential recognition process. To date, agreements have been signed with nine organizations across the country to deliver these loans. The federal government continues to partner with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders, such as regulatory bodies, to improve foreign credential recognition.
In 2007, the Government of Canada established the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) to provide internationally trained workers with information and services for credential assessment so they can find work in their fields quickly. Since 2009, internationally trained individuals in 14 occupations can have their qualifications assessed within one year, anywhere in Canada, so they can put their knowledge and skills to work sooner.
For more information: http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/credential_recognition/index.shtml
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit actionplan.gc.ca.
Backgrounder
Improving Foreign Credential Recognition
Canada's Economic Action Plan invested $50 million to work with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders to improve foreign credential recognition. This partnership led to the development of a national framework that is streamlining foreign credential recognition for key occupations.
Under the framework, internationally trained professionals who submit an application to be licensed or registered to work in certain fields, along with all fees and relevant documents, will be advised within one year how their credentials compare to Canadian standards. They may also be advised of additional requirements or be directed to alternative occupations that would benefit from their skills and experience.
Service standards have been established so that internationally trained professionals in 14 priority occupations, many in health care, can have their credentials assessed within one year, anywhere in Canada. Economic Action Plan 2013 reinforced the Government of Canada's commitment to further improve foreign credential recognition and continue to work in partnership with the provinces and territories to identify the next set of target occupations.
For more information, please consult http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/jobs/credential_recognition/docs/pcf.pdf.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Project was launched in February 2012. Delivered in cooperation with community organizations, this pilot is helping internationally trained professionals cover the costs of having their credentials recognized, so they can find jobs that best suit their skills and experience.
The Government of Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program and Services
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program aims to improve the integration of internationally trained workers into the workforce. The Program provides funding to and works with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders—including regulatory bodies, post-secondary institutions, sector councils and employers—to implement projects that facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired in other countries.
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) provides information and path-finding and referral services, both in Canada and overseas, to help internationally trained workers have their credentials assessed quickly so they can find work faster in the fields in which they have been trained.
The FCRO works with federal, provincial and territorial partners, as well as with credential assessment and recognition bodies, to strengthen foreign credential recognition processes across the country. Internet-based services for internationally trained workers can be found on the FCRO website at www.credentials.gc.ca.
SOURCE: Canada's Economic Action Plan
Johanna Quinney
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister of State
(Social Development)
613-697-4449
Alexandra Fortier
Office of the Minister of Employment and
Social Development and Minister for
Multiculturalism
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[email protected]
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This news release is available online at actionplan.gc.ca.
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