Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists June 9, 2010 Optimizing Canadian Technology Immigration Network

2 Barriers to Labour Market Integration  International credentials tend to be discounted, being comparable to about 70% of Canadian qualifications (Alboim, Finnie & Meng, 2005)  Although 80% of immigrants find full time work within 2 years, only 42% are working in their field of competence (LSIC 2005)  For recent immigrants in particular, the recession has created disproportionate levels of unemployment and net job losses, and that PSE did not lessen high unemployment for immigrants  Most common barriers to labour market integration are: –language fluency and literacy skills; foreign credential recognition; lack of Canadian work experience; and knowledge of Canadian society and culture. Although Canada has demonstrated success in attracting internationally-trained workers and skilled immigrants, this success has not always translated into positive labour market outcomes for them.

3 Pan-Canadian Framework  First Ministers directed Labour Market Ministers to: Develop a Pan-Canadian Qualification Recognition Framework & Implementation Plan  Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan (Budget 2009), the Government of Canada is investing $50 million over two years toward this initiative  November 30, 2009, the Framework is announced by governments in Toronto and Vancouver  Pan-Canadian Vision: –A fair and competitive labour market environment where immigrants have the opportunity to fully use their education, skills and work experience for their benefit and for Canada's collective prosperity

4 A Shared Vision  The Framework represents a public commitment by all governments to take action on the issue of qualification recognition Principles-based: Processes and practices must be fair, transparent, timely and consistent across Canada Deadline-driven: Target occupations will achieve the Framework’s commitments by specified timelines Engineer Technicians and Technologies = December 31, 2012 Pathways: Not every applicant follows a straight-line path into the labour market; need to concentrate on alternate pathways Foreign Qualification Recognition is the process of verifying that the knowledge, skills, work experience and education obtained in another country is comparable to the standards established for Canadian professionals and tradespersons

5 Pathways to Recognition in Canada  The following diagram represents the scope of the Framework as viewed through the eyes of an individual seeking to put their foreign qualifications to use within the Canadian labour market:

6 Pathway to Skills Upgrading  Bridge training programs play a crucial role in supporting immigrants in closing the gap between their qualifications and the competencies required in the Canadian labour market  FCRP has provided strategic financial supported to over 100 projects ( ) to enable relevant FQR stakeholders to develop principles-based FQR systems, processes and tools, including a variety of bridging initiatives, –From tool and curriculum development to pilot testing of programs –Bridge-to-licensure vs. Bridge-to-work –Advanced by various or groups of stakeholders, including employers, colleges and universities, occupational regulatory bodies, and community organizations  Tremendous variety in scope: –A clinical or workplace experience –Skills training or targeted academic training programs –Preparation for a license or certification examination –Profession or trade specific language training –Individual learning plans identifying additional training requirements

7 Success Stories A clinical or workplace experience Canadian Midwifery Regulators Consortium  FCRP is supporting improvements to a comprehensive bridge-to-licensure pilot program that combines distance and in-class learning as well as practical work experience Skills training or targeted academic training programs Royal Architectural Institute of Canada  FCRP has supported the development of distance education courses that assist foreign-trained architects in completing their Canadian education requirements

8 Bridge Training Programs Preparation for a license or certification examination/ Profession or trade specific language training Biotalent Canada and Canadian Society for Medical Laboratory Science  Developed competency profiles and job bank that allows internationally educated medical specialists who are in the process of (or have not been successful in obtaining licensure) transfer their skills into a related field within the biotechnology sector Individual learning plans identifying additional training requirements Information and Communications Technology Council  Participants with technical skills, but missing the “soft skills” required for the Canadian workplace. FCRP supported employment preparation tool development and facilitated employer sponsored internships