Government of Canada helps hundreds of internationally trained newcomers in Milton get their skills credentials recognized in Canada

News release

May 23, 2019              Milton, Ontario              Employment and Social Development Canada

Skilled newcomers often face unique challenges finding work in their field, because of a lack of recognition of their education and training acquired abroad. To ensure a skilled, competitive, and inclusive workforce, the Government of Canada is helping internationally trained newcomers find and keep good, well-paying jobs, which is part of the Government’s plan to grow the economy, strengthen the middle class and ensure Canada’s future competitiveness.

Today, the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced a new project to help approximately 100 internationally trained newcomers in Milton, Ontario get their foreign credentials recognized so they can integrate into the job market faster, and contribute to our growing economy.

The Government of Canada is providing the Canadian Welding Bureau Group (CWB Group) with $650,000 over two years to develop the Newcomer Welding Professional Credential Assessment (NWPCA) Portal. This new online portal will provide Internationally-Trained Welding Professionals (ITWPs) with employment and training tools, and guidance on how best to get foreign credentials recognized in Canada. This investment will help internationally trained newcomers to find and keep good, well-paying jobs as part of the plan to grow the economy, strengthen the middle class and ensure Canada’s future competitiveness.

This investment is being made through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program (FCRP) provides funding to provincial and territorial governments, regulatory bodies, national associations and credential assessment agencies. Governments and organizations use the funding for projects to streamline foreign credential recognition processes. The FCRP also provides loans to newcomers to help them cover expenses related to getting their skills and training recognized. It offers employment support services to help skilled newcomers get their first Canadian work experience in their profession and field of study.

Quotes

Our success depends on everyone getting a fair chance at success –including newcomers. Helping them get their foreign skills credentials recognized will allow them to pursue their profession in our workforce, benefitting our economy and our people. Through this investment, we are making sure no untapped talent is left behind. When we give newcomers a fair chance at success in Canada, our economy and our middle class grow.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“CWB Group is honoured to receive this Foreign Credential Recognition Program grant from Employment and Social Development Canada to develop a national welding professional credential assessment program. This investment enables us to build a program and develop resources, which support the successful employment of welders across Canada. Newcomers to Canada and Canadian welding professionals will benefit by upgrading their skills and access a suite of career development services to help them secure employment in one of the many industries desperate for skilled welding professionals.”
– Michelle Stanford, Senior Vice President, Industry Services

Quick facts

  • Project is expected to help more than 100 Internationally Trained Individual (ITIs).

  • Welding is a high growth industry compared to most other occupations. Between 2011 and 2015, welders experienced a 15% growth and 30% for metal workers. At the same time, the industry has seen shortages of candidates and demands from the sector increasing. (Statistics Canada)

  • It is expected that 250 newcomers will visit the NWPCA project webpage, 100 of whom will be serviced by the project, and with 50% or more of those participating newcomers expected to join the Canadian labour market.

  • Recent immigrants aged 15-64 have a lower employment rate (62.2%) than non-immigrants (71.7%). (Statistics Canada, Census 2016)

  • Female newcomers in visible minority groups have a higher unemployment rate (14.4%) than their male counterparts (10.2%) (Statistics Canada, 2011-2016 newcomers to Canada)

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Contacts

Véronique Simard
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
veronique.simard@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
819-654-5611

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
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