Helping internationally trained immigrants get jobs related to their fields
VANCOUVER, April 25, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development, along with the Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Richmond, announced over $2.5 million for a project to help underemployed newcomers find alternative careers in Canada related to their field of study and education.
Minister Kenney stressed the importance of helping newcomers put their skills to work sooner. Through this project, S.U.C.C.E.S.S. will help close to 300 skilled newcomers choose a career path suited to their skills and experience, while providing employers with a pool of talented workers.
Alternative careers can be an effective option for internationally trained workers who may require extensive additional training and testing to become licensed to practice in their fields.
Quick facts
- The Government of Canada is streamlining foreign credential recognition so that internationally trained workers in 14 priority occupations can have their credentials assessed within one year, anywhere in Canada. This will benefit many people who are internationally trained in these occupations and who apply for licensing annually, including some 2,000 pharmacists, 1,200 dentists and 2,300 engineers.
- In 2012, the Government of Canada launched the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans pilot project in partnership with nine community organizations across Canada, including S.U.C.C.E.S.S. This is helping internationally trained workers get their credentials recognized and find jobs in their fields more quickly.
- To date, over 1,000 internationally trained workers have benefitted from microloans. S.U.C.C.E.S.S. has helped close to 500 skilled newcomers with microloans of up to $15,000.
Quotes
- "Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth, and long-term prosperity. This initiative will help newcomers get jobs in their fields faster. This is good news for newcomers, good news for Canadian employers, and good news for the Canadian economy."
-The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development
- "Our government is helping newcomers succeed. For Canada to achieve its potential, immigrants and newcomers must have the opportunity to find work that best suits their skills and experience. By improving foreign credential recognition, we are ensuring skilled newcomers can enter the job market quickly."
- The Honourable Alice Wong, Minister of State (Seniors)
- "The objective of this new exciting initiative is to address the lack of alternative career support for under-utilized newcomers. This national pilot project is a milestone for our organization. Thanks to the support from the Government of Canada, we will provide services for newcomers and employers in the Toronto area for the first time."
- Queenie Choo, CEO of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Associated links
- Employment and Social Development Canada: Credential Recognition
- Applying for Foreign Credential Recognition Loans
- A Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Credentials
- Job Bank
Backgrounder
Improving Foreign Credential Recognition
Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government of Canada works with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders to improve foreign credential recognition. This partnership led to the development of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, which is streamlining foreign credential recognition for priority occupations, including doctors and dentists.
Under the framework, internationally trained workers 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, 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.
Government of Canada Foreign Credential Recognition Programs and Services
The Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) 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 Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Project, delivered in cooperation with community organizations, helps internationally trained workers cover the costs of having their credentials recognized, so they can find jobs that best suit their skills and experience.
The Foreign Credentials Referral Office 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 Internationally Educated Health Professionals Initiative works with provinces, territories and stakeholders to enable more internationally educated health professionals to put their skills to work in Canada's health system.
Orientation Sessions
The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP) is a ground-breaking initiative between the Government of Canada and the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC). The program provides free pre-departure orientation to federal skilled workers, provincial nominees, and their spouses and adult dependants, while they are still overseas during the final stages of the immigration process. It helps immigrants better prepare for economic success by providing information, planning, and online support through partners in Canada. CIIP assists newcomers in 25 countries through offices located in the Philippines, China, India, and the United Kingdom.
Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program
The Federal Internship for Newcomers (FIN) Program provides newcomers with valuable temporary Canadian work experience and training opportunities with federal government departments and agencies and private sector organizations.
The number and types of positions available in a given year vary. Internships are offered in fields such as policy, administration, project management, computer science, communications, science and engineering. Interns are hired for 90 working days. The internship may be extended an additional 90 working days. A mentor is provided for the duration of the internship.
SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada
Alexandra Fortier
Office of the Minister of Employment and Social Development
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[email protected]
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