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November 23, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05-86
EDMONTON, ALBERTA— The Honourable Anne McLellan, Deputy Prime Minister, Minister of Public Safety and Emergency Preparedness and Member of Parliament for Edmonton Centre on behalf of Belinda Stronach, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal, today announced over $1.3 million in funding, through Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program, for three projects being carried out by Alberta-based organizations that will help integrate immigrants and internationally trained Canadians into the workforce
They range from developing tools for engineers to helping skilled workers in the environmental sector integrate into the labour market.
“The Government of Canada is pleased to fund these projects because we recognize that Canada ’s future competitiveness depends on a highly skilled workforce,” said Minister McLellan.
“The projects announced today will not only help immigrants to have the opportunity to make full use of their skills but the partnerships with stakeholders will help shape future policy direction,” said Minister Stronach
The Government of Canada’s FCR Program will improve the integration of internationally trained workers into the labour force by working with provinces, territories and key stakeholder organizations, such as professional bodies, trade associations and sector councils, to implement projects that will facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired in other countries.
Today’s announcement is linked to Canada ’s Workplace Skills Strategy, which seeks to help Canadians become the best-trained, most highly skilled workers in the world, and to ensure that employers’ needs are met.
The Government is providing $68 million over six years to implement the FCR program and to fund key activities from our partners aimed at improving FCR processes in Canada .
For details, see the attached backgrounder.
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For further information (media only):
M edia Relations Office
Human Resources and
Skills Development Canada
(819) 994-5559
Normand Bergeron
Special Advisor, Communications
Office of Minister Stronach
(819) 994-2482
BACKGROUNDER
Organization
Description of Project
Funding
Alberta Congress Board
Alberta Conference Board’s Workplace Conference
The purpose of this project is to fund the Alberta Congress Board ’s 2005 workplace conference, called “Bridging Alberta’s Economic Future: Is Immigration the Answer?” The project will also fund follow-up activities with partners and stakeholder groups.
$50,867
Southern Alberta Institute of Technology
ESCAT Assessment Tool
This project will develop and pilot an Essential Skills communication assessment tool (ESCAT), create an Essential Skills technical English curriculum, and pilot an Essential Skills engineering curriculum to assist in the assessment of immigrants’ skills and competencies.
$361,006
Environmental Careers Organization of Canada
Academic Partnership Model
Through the development of a partnership with a Canadian post-secondary institution, this project will provide the Canadian environmental sector with a mechanism that facilitates the successful integration of highly skilled workers (immigrants and mid-career environmental professionals) into environmental areas of practice where demand is greatest.
$984,328
Total Projects
$1,396,201
