Government of Canada helps newcomers integrate into the labour market

TORONTO, ONTARIO, January 11, 2010—Newcomers to Canada will get the help they need to better integrate into the workforce through a new project funded by the Government of Canada. The Honourable Peter Kent, Minister of State of Foreign Affairs (Americas) and Member of Parliament for Thornhill, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

“Attracting and retaining the best international talent to address existing and future labour market challenges is critical to Canada’s long-term economic success,” said Minister of State Kent. “Our government is working with partners to address barriers to foreign qualification recognition so that newcomers can maximize their talents. Our Economic Action Plan is helping to strengthen the Canadian economy and improve the standard of living from coast to coast to coast.”

JVS Toronto will receive over $1.7 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program to support the Integrated Pre-Arrival Services Online project.

The project will help newcomers better integrate into the workforce by providing them with a comprehensive set of online tools before they arrive in Canada. These online tools will allow foreign-trained workers to access the information they need from the moment they decide to move to Canada, and will include subjects such as language training, labour market information, mentoring, and how to find a job.

“We are delighted to work in collaboration with our partners to offer the Integrated Pre-Arrival Services Online program,” said Ms. Karen Goldenberg, President and Chief Executive Officer, JVS Toronto. “The opportunity to work with a number of service providers will provide seamless access to a package of pre-arrival services that will enable internationally trained individuals to integrate into the Canadian labour market in a more meaningful and timely manner.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan invested $50 million to work with the provinces and territories to address barriers to foreign credential recognition in Canada, and contributed to the recently announced Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.

Under the Framework, foreign-trained workers who submit an application to be licensed or registered to work in certain fields will be advised within one year whether their qualifications will be recognized. TheFramework is part of the Government of Canada’s strategy to have the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world.

With this $50 million investment, the Government will:

• develop the principles that will guide the process of foreign credential recognition;
• develop standards for the timely handling of requests;
• identify key occupations that will be the priority for developing recognition standards; and
• help people who want to come to Canada understand what they need to know before they arrive.

The Foreign Credential Recognition Program and the Foreign Credentials Referral Office are the key federal initiatives in place to support pan-Canadian implementation of the Framework.

To learn more about Canada’s Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

For further information (media only):

Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559

Backgrounder

To help internationally trained workers find jobs in their career of choice, Canada’s Economic Action Plan is investing $50 million over two years to make the process of assessing and recognizing foreign qualifications more efficient.

The objective of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications is to articulate a new joint national vision, guiding principles and desired outcomes for improving the assessment and recognition of newcomers’ qualifications.

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 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) was established in May 2007 to help internationally trained workers receive the information, path-finding and referral services, in Canada and overseas, to have their credentials assessed quickly so they can find work faster in the fields for which they have been trained. The FCRO works with federal, provincial and territorial partners, and foreign credential assessment and recognition bodies to strengthen foreign credential recognition processes across the country. Internet services for internationally trained workers can be found on the FCRO Web site at the following address: www.credentials.gc.ca.

JVS Toronto is a non-profit organization that was founded over 60 years ago to help Jewish immigrants find employment after World War II. Today, the organization works with thousands of people from diverse backgrounds with diverse needs. JVS Toronto helps clients identify their strengths and goals, and develop the necessary skills and knowledge they need to succeed in school, work and life. Since 1947, this organization has enabled over 500,000 people to fulfill their potential.