Foreign credentials: Some progress at last, but all with a grain of salt

On Monday Human Resources minister Diane Findley in partnership with Immigration Minister Jason Kenney announced a new initiative to speed up the recognition process of the foreign credentials for incoming immigrants in several specific occupations. This proposal is in response to the vast number of educated professionals entering Canada whose credentials are not approved and who therefore cannot attain jobs in their fields of expertise.

Part of the problem is a lack of coordination between the Federal Government and the provinces in terms of credential approval. This new system is supposed to ensure the same procedures will be followed across Canada, making the requirements clearer for both prospective immigrants and employers. Newcomers with training and/or experience in certain skill sets will undergo a fast track program to ensure credentials match Canadian standards.

The system should be up and running by the end of 2010 for a select number of occupations, and should expand to others in the coming years. The occupations in this first wave include registered nurses, architects, engineers, financial auditors and accountants, medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, physiotherapists and pharmacists. In two to three years time, physicians, teachers, and a few other professions should be added to the list.

This announcement is good in the sense that it addresses a problem that has been plaguing Canadian immigration policy and the integration of newcomers for a number of years. Too many educated and trained professionals are unable to acquire jobs in their fields. The Toronto Star refers to it as the “doctors-driving-cabs” problem.

However, there are several reasons to be cautious in terms of optimism. Although the plan is to expand the number of occupations, the list is still very limited. Only eight occupations are included in the first wave, and only a few more expect to be added in the next couple of years.

In addition, by the approval of credentials there is no guarantee of employment. There was little or no guidance concerning employer preferences or requirements in the hiring processes of the designated professions.

Finally, these changes are again in line with the continuing emphasis on economic immigration. There was no mention of how this will affect the approval of prospective immigrants in other categories, including humanitarian and family class immigrants.

It is important to remember, however, that more reforms to Canada’s immigration system are expected by the end of this year. This announcement only addresses one area of concern within the entire immigration policy. Let us hope that other policy changes and actions address these other concerns.