Government of Canada Supports Voluntary Sector Projects Related to the Recognition of Foreign Credentials
HALIFAX, June 15, 2002 -- Secretary of State (Multiculturalism) (Status of Women) Jean Augustine today announced government funding, through the Multiculturalism Program, for two Voluntary Sector Initiative projects related to the accreditation of foreign credentials. The announcement was made at the Atlantic Metropolis Conference, which is taking place at Dalhousie University, from June 14 to 16, 2002."The recognition of foreign credentials is a Government priority," said Ms. Augustine. "The initiatives put forward will help ensure that all people, arriving from everywhere in the world, can contribute to building our nation and to our sense of pride in being Canadian."
The first project, which will run over two years, will be led by the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA), an umbrella organization of agencies in the Greater Toronto Area. It will bring together professional and trade associations and immigrant-serving organizations to develop strategies for the recognition of foreign credentials.
The second two-year project, led by the Surrey Delta Immigrant Services Society, Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC), and the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia, aims to strengthen the involvement of ethno-cultural communities in five British Columbia communities in the policy development process related to the recognition of foreign credentials.
"Allowing immigrants to use their skills is critical because, in the next decade, newcomers will likely account for all of Canada's labour-force growth," said Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Denis Coderre. "That is why I will also be pursuing the issue of foreign credential recognition with my federal, provincial and territorial colleagues, building on work that is already underway."
"We have been successful in attracting skilled immigrants in the past, but we can do a better job of integrating immigrants and helping them achieve their full potential," added Ms. Augustine. "I congratulate the voluntary sector for undertaking these research projects and look forward to their contribution to the ongoing federal, provincial and territorial work to improve foreign credential recognition in Canada. "
The Voluntary Sector Initiative (VSI) is a joint undertaking between the voluntary sector and the Government of Canada. Its long term objective is to strengthen the sector's capacity to meet the challenges for the future, and to enhance the relationship between the sector and the federal government and their ability to serve Canadians.
For further information on the Voluntary Sector Initiative, call 1-800 O-Canada (1 800 622-6232) or visit the VSI Web site at
http://www.vsi-isbc.ca
Information:
Carole Nesbeth
Office of Secretary of State
(Multiculturalism) (Status of Women)
(819) 997-9900
(613) 371-4488 (cellular - Saturday only)
- BACKGROUNDER -
2002 Multicultural Projects under the Voluntary Sector Initiative
On March 20, 2002, the Honourable Lucienne Robillard, President of the Treasury Board of Canada and Chair of the Reference Group of Ministers for the Voluntary Sector, announced funding for more than 100 voluntary sector organizations who will lead 46 projects contributing to public policy development.
Among these projects are two multiculturalism projects that will help develop policy on the recognition of foreign credentials in Canada.
1.--Policy Development Roundtable on the Integration of Internationally-Trained Professionals and Tradespeople ($373,600)
The project will span two years and aims to develop and enhance the capacity of organizations responding to the needs of internationally-trained professionals and tradespeople, and the policy/advocacy groups working to support them. It will also provide credible policy input to Government forums on the effective economic integration of internationally-trained professionals and tradespeople. The project has three objectives:
--to create a policy roundtable to provide well-informed and credible policy and best practice input to Government forums on Access to Professions and Trades
--to create a national resource of research and policy materials on credential recognition and the integration of internationally-trained professionals and tradespeople into the labour market
--to facilitate and co-ordinate the voluntary sector-based development of occupation-specific, cross occupational and broad interdepartmental policy and program initiatives on Access to Professions and Trades
The lead organization is the Council of Agencies Serving South Asians (CASSA).
2. British Columbia Network of Association for Foreign Trained Professionals ($350,748)
The project is designed to enhance and strengthen the involvement of ethno-cultural communities in developing policy on the recognition of foreign credentials across a range of professions and trades in Canada. The project will involve five communities in British Columbia.
The project aims to develop links between key stakeholders, regulatory bodies, governments, educational institutions and community-based agencies in order to identify barriers to the recognition of foreign credentials and identify solutions. It will provide policy options to Government and other regulatory bodies.
The lead organizations are the Surrey Delta Immigrant Services Society, the Multilingual Orientation Service Association for Immigrant Communities (MOSAIC), and the Immigrant Services Society of British Columbia.
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