Canada’s Economic Action Plan for Labour Market Challenges

Winnipeg, July 16, 2010 - The Government of Canada is funding a project that will help integrate foreign-trained newcomers into the Canadian labour market. The Hon. Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform), made the announcement on behalf of the Hon. Diane Finley, Minister of Human Re-sources and Skills Development, along with the Hon. Diane McGifford, Minister of Advanced Education and Literacy for Manitoba, and Chair of the Council of Ministers of Education, Canada (CMEC).

CMEC will receive $941,655 in funding over two years for its project entitled Pan-Canadian Quality Standards in International Credential Evaluation: Phase II.

“Attracting 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 Fletcher. “That’s why, through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is investing and working with partners to develop a common approach to foreign credential recognition across Canada. I’m pleased to support the Council in helping skilled newcomers put their knowledge and skills to work.”

Through this project, CMEC will help internationally trained newcomers integrate into the workforce by improving the consistency and the portability of their academic and vocational assessments across Canada, in both regulated and unregulated professions. The project will also facilitate the assessment of academic credentials for the admission of foreign students to Canadian colleges and universities.

“CMEC recognizes the need to ensure that new and future Canadians are able to have their academic and vocational credentials assessed in a manner that is fair, transparent and timely, as well as broadly consistent across all provinces and territories,” said Minister McGifford. “Ministers of education are pleased to be working with our federal colleagues on this important initiative.”

The Government of Canada invested $50 million to work with the provinces and territories and other partners, such as employers, to address barriers to foreign credential recognition in Canada. This investment directly contributed to the development of the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, which was announced last November. The objective of the Framework is to articulate a new joint national vision, guiding principles and desired outcomes for improving the assessment and recognition of newcomers’ qualifications.

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

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Hon. Steven Fletcher, Minister of State (Democratic Reform)