Canada and Nova Scotia take action to help newcomers get jobs in their field faster

HALIFAX, Nov. 13,  2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General ofCanada, and Member of Parliament for Central Nova, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism, today announced the renewal of the foreign credential recognition funding agreement between the Government of Canada and the Government of Nova Scotia. The Government of Canada will provide $1.3 million while the Government of Nova Scotia will provide nearly$610,000 for the Building International Recognition in Nova Scotia project aimed at helping improve foreign credential recognition within the province so that internationally trained professionals can get jobs in their fields faster.

Through this project, the Government of Nova Scotia will work with stakeholders and partners to create online tools and programs to help internationally trained workers prepare for their licensure exams. It will also develop projects to help bridge the gap in training programs and help internationally trained professionals investigate alternative career opportunities that best utilize their skills and experience.

Minister MacKay noted that highly skilled newcomers play a key role in our workforce, but our economy and society can benefit even more by finding better ways to tap into their skills and talents. As a result of these challenges, the Government of Canada is currently undertaking an online consultation accessible to all Canadians through theEmployment and Social Development Canada website that focuses on employment challenges of new Canadians. This consultation is part of the Government of Canada's action plan to improve foreign credential recognition for internationally trained professionals.

Recently, Minister Kenney announced that, in partnership with provincial and territorial partners, the Government ofCanada will improve foreign credential recognition for 10 additional priority occupations. Specifically, the Government of Canada is establishing a one-year service standard, meaning new Canadians in these fields will have their credentials assessed within a one-year period. These occupations are: geoscientists, carpenters, electricians, heavy-duty equipment technicians, heavy equipment operators, welders, audiologists and speech-language pathologists, midwives, psychologists and lawyers.

Quick Facts

• Under the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, high-skilled newcomers in the 14 priority occupations—including some 5,600 engineers, 3,100 physicians, 2,000 pharmacists, 1,100 physiotherapists, and 1,200 dentists—are already benefitting from improvements to foreign credential recognition.
• The Government of Canada also offers a microloans pilot project to help internationally trained workers cover the cost of having their credentials recognized. To date, more than 1,400 skilled newcomers have benefitted from microloans.

Quotes

"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. We recognize that skilled newcomers help fill shortages in key occupations and make an important contribution to Canada's economy. That is why we are streamlining foreign credential and experience recognition so that more skilled newcomers inNova Scotia can put their talents to work in the province sooner." – The Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development and Minister for Multiculturalism

"This is a great opportunity for the province of Nova Scotia to get access to the skilled workforce it needs to prosper and, as a result, for Canada to continue to prosper. This project will help prepare highly skilled newcomers living inNova Scotia so they can take advantage of employment opportunities in the province that best utilize their skills, experience and qualifications." – The Honourable Peter MacKay, Minister of Justice and Attorney General of Canada

"Attracting skilled workers from across the country and around the world is key to helping our economy reach its full potential. Often, workers coming to Nova Scotia already have the right skills. We need to ensure they get proper recognition of those skills. Renewal of this agreement will allow us and our partners to address obstacles in the system and continue to improve the assessment and recognition of international qualifications." – The Honourable Kelly Regan, Nova Scotia Minister of Labour and Advanced Education.

For more news and updates, assistance with your visa needs or for a Free Assessment of your profile for Immigration or Work Visa’s just visit www.y-axis.com