March12, 2001

Ministry of Multiculturalism and Immigration

PROGRAM LAUNCHED TO RECOGNIZE FOREIGN PROFESSIONALS

VANCOUVER-- The B.C. government is dedicating more resources to help foreign-trained workers find meaningful jobs in B.C. and reach their full potential in contributing to the province's economic growth, Multiculturalism and Immigration Minister Sue Hammell announced today.

"While many foreign-trained professionals quickly settle into B.C. communities and find jobs in their chosen profession, some have qualifications that aren't easily recognized," said Hammell. "Their skills aren't being fully utilized, and we need their knowledge and abilities to support our growing economy."

With increased global competition for skilled workers, Hammell said an accessible and streamlined system for recognizing foreign credentials is key to attracting people. "Unfortunately, the current process appears complex and is not well-understood by many applicants. That's why we're working to find ways to change this situation," she said.

The ministry is increasing its efforts to resolve issues surrounding the recognition of foreign-trained professionals, beginning with a new pilot project launched in partnership with the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers and the Government of Canada. The pilot will help foreign-trained engineers get the work experience they need to qualify for licensure by the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia, and to work as professional engineers in B.C.

The ministry has also formed a new, dedicated unit that will work with other levels of government, regulatory bodies, employers and community organizations to identify other priority professions and trades that will benefit from a program like the professional engineers' pilot.

"Any steps we can take to help immigrant engineers in their chosen field can only help to speed up and smooth out their transition to professional registration in British Columbia," said John Watson, P.Eng., vice-president of the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia.

The association has been chosen as the ministry's first professional partner for this pilot program due to the important role professional engineers play in the new, knowledge-based economy. "With over 18,500 members, APEGBC is the third-largest professional body in B.C.," said Watson. "The rapid assimilation of qualified engineers, immigrant or otherwise, will help maintain the provincial, national and international competitiveness of B.C.'s professional engineering and geoscience team."

The association will play an advisory role in developing the program, help identify suitable clients and employers, and -- in conjunction with the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers -- look for ways to streamline existing provincial and national credential assessment processes for foreign applicants. The experience from the pilot program will be applied to other professions in B.C. and shared with other provinces in Canada.

Elinor Caplan, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, added: "The Government of Canada will work with British Columbia and the APEGBC to develop this project. Successful integration of all immigrants is a sound policy, and the speech from the throne commits to overcoming the integration barrier of foreign credential recognition."

"This does not lower Canadian standards in assessing foreign credentials, nor does it challenge provincial licensing bodies," said Hammell. "Rather, it provides fair and transparent access to the professional job market and assessment process."

Hammell noted that the new program complements the recently announced provincial nominee program, part of B.C.'s health action plan, which is facilitating the immigration process for qualified foreign-trained nurses to fill vacancies in B.C.

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BACKGROUNDER

FOREIGN CREDENTIAL RECOGNITION PILOT PROGRAM

 
To have foreign credentials recognized, a foreign-trained worker must generally:

• Search for information on requirements before coming to Canada.
• Submit an application to a regulatory body, including certified documents translated into English.
• Show academic equivalency to Canadian programs or take examinations to test knowledge and/or language proficiency.
• Acquire Canadian work experience and an orientation to the Canadian workplace.
• In some cases, take upgrading and training courses.
  
  
• The initial budget for the program, including the pilot, has been estimated at $900,000. This includes three full-time staff for a new dedicated unit to work with government, regulatory bodies, employers and community organizations to identify other professions and trades that may benefit from a similar program. Discussions are currently underway between the province and the federal government on a cost sharing arrangement for the program.
  
  
• Details of the pilot program will be developed over the next eight weeks under the guidance of a steering committee made up of senior officials from the federal and provincial governments, as well as the Association of Professional Engineers and Geoscientists of British Columbia. This will include guidelines for prospective employers and employees of the pilot program. At the same time, the integrity of high Canadian standards and current licensing programs will be maintained.
  
  
• The goal of the engineers' pilot program is to reduce or eliminate barriers experienced by some foreign-trained professionals so that they may integrate more easily into society and contribute to the growth of the B.C. economy. The program will also concentrate on full and fair access to all foreign-trained professionals in getting their license to practice in Canada. Through the pilot, APEGBC will be able to provide employers with practical tools to help choose the best candidates for the job.
  
  
• The engineering profession has been identified for this pilot because:
  
  
  • Many new immigrants with professional qualifications are engineers.
  • Engineers provide a vital link to the economic growth of the province.
  • APEGBC is progressive and innovative in its recognition of foreign credentials.
    
    
• To demonstrate suitability for licensure and employment, engineers require assessment of academic credentials and work experience in the profession. One of the barriers for foreign-trained engineers is the requirement for one year of Canadian work experience. The pilot program will consist of assessments, workshops, referrals, work placements and employment counselling designed to help foreign-trained engineers become licensed and find suitable employment.

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