Immigration Canada

Minister Kenney Proposes to Assess Foreign Education Credentials Before Skilled Workers Arrive

OTTAWA, ONTARIO, Mar 28, 2012 (MARKETWIRE via COMTEX) -- Canada is proposing a major change to how foreign skilled workers' education credentials are assessed, Citizenship, Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Jason Kenney announced today.

The proposed new requirement would mean that applicants wanting to immigrate as Federal Skilled Workers would have their foreign education credentials assessed and verified by designated organizations before they arrive in Canada.

"Our Government is building an immigration system that is focused on economic growth and ensuring that all Canadians, including immigrants, are able to contribute to their maximum capacity," said Jason Kenney. "By having their foreign education credentials assessed before their arrival to Canada, foreign skilled workers will have a better sense of how their credentials fit into the Canadian labour market and will be able to contribute their full skill set to the economy more quickly. This proposal is part of a broader package of transformational changes that will make Canada's immigration policies work better for the Canadian economy."

A pre-arrival assessment would let applicants know how their education credentials compare to Canadian credentials and it will give immigrants a sense of how Canadian employers are likely to value their education. This will also screen out people without proper education levels and is an important step in helping to address the problem of immigrants arriving and not being able to work in their field.

The assessment of international educational credentials would not mean that Federal Skilled Workers would automatically find employment in Canada commensurate with their skills nor would it guarantee that they would become licensed to practice in a regulated occupation. Applicants who intend to work in a regulated profession would likely need to have their qualifications assessed in greater depth for purposes of licensure by a regulatory body specific to their profession and intended province of work.

"Internationally trained workers make an important contribution to Canada's job market and the economy," added Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development. "That's why our Government is working in partnership to improve foreign credential recognition so that skilled newcomers can put their knowledge and skills to work sooner."

Minister Kenney also used the occasion to release the 2011 Government of Canada Progress Report on Foreign Credential Recognition, Strengthening Canada's Economy. The annual report, led by the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, highlights achievements made by Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, and Health Canada to help foreign trained individuals integrate into the Canadian workforce.

Highlights of the report include:

        
        --  expansion of the Canadian Immigration Integration Program (CIIP), which
            is designed and managed by the Association of Canadian Community
            Colleges. CIIP currently offers pre-arrival orientation sessions in up
            to 25 countries, based on demand;
        --  an innovative assessment and bridging program to help internationally
            educated nurses meet regulatory requirements for licensure across
            Canada; and
        --  the launch of the International Qualifications Network Website for
            stakeholders to share information and best practices in credential
            assessment

To read the Government of Canada 2011 Progress Report on Foreign Credential Recognition, Strengthening Canada's Economy, go to: http://www.credentials.gc.ca/fcro/progress-report2011.asp

Photo of Minister Kenney will be available later today at: www.cic.gc.ca/english/department/media/photos/high-res/index.asp .

Building a stronger Canada: Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC) strengthens Canada's economic, social and cultural prosperity, helping ensure Canadian safety and security while managing one of the largest and most generous immigration programs in the world.

        
        Contacts:
        Citizenship and Immigration Canada
        Minister's Office
        Ana Curic
        613-954-1064
        
        Citizenship and Immigration Canada
        Communications Branch
        Media Relations
        613-952-1650
        CIC-Media-Relations@cic.gc.ca

SOURCE: Citizenship and Immigration Canada

Canada to test immigrants' professional credentials

College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario -- from College Street in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

By Randall Palmer

OTTAWA (Reuters) - The Canadian government says it is taking action to try to ensure that immigrants with foreign professional credentials are actually qualified to work in their chosen fields in Canada, with the screening to be done before they arrive.

Citizenship and Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced the proposed new requirement on Wednesday in a speech to regulatory bodies that are responsible for recognizing or denying foreign credentials.

The idea is to avoid situations in which, for instance, foreign doctors cannot find work after immigrating to Canada because Canadian medical bodies will not recognize their qualifications, and end up in jobs such as driving taxis.

"The overall goal here is to better select and better support potential immigrants before they come to Canada, so they can hit the ground running once they arrive by integrating quickly into our labor market," Kenney said.

Kenney said he continually hears heart-rending stories of doctors and other professionals from abroad unable to get licensed to practice in Canada.

The plan is for the government to hire designated third-party organizations to do the assessments, which will feed into the decision on whether to let the applicants immigrate.

Kenney said this would enable Canadian officials to screen out applicants without the necessary education and qualifications more effectively.

He said he hopes to have the system up and running by the end of the year.

"Not everyone from every country from every university has an equal shot at licensure at a job in a profession in Canada," he said.

"Part of the problem in the past has been our rigid and passive immigration system, which has invited people into the country, even those who frankly will never have a shot at applying their credentials into the licensed profession in Canada."

Kenney said the plan was no guarantee that the proposals would improve the chances that accrediting organizations in Canada - the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario, for example - will end up accrediting the immigrants once they arrive.

The government cannot force the regulatory bodies to accredit more foreigners, and Kenney said it did not want them to lower their Canadian standards. But he did encourage the regulatory bodies to streamline their processes and open up opportunity.

(Editing by Peter Galloway)