VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, December 8, 2006—Today, in Vancouver, British Columbia, the Honourable David Emerson, Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development, announced that Canada's new government will invest $215,000 to help better integrate new Canadians into the work force.
"This project represents just one of many Government initiatives to improve foreign credential recognition," said Minister Emerson. "Our Government recognizes that Canada's future productivity and competitiveness depend on attracting a highly skilled, internationally trained workforce, and that's why we're investing in projects that do just that."
Minister Emerson announced today that the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT), Campus Canada and the United Chinese Community Enrichment Services Society (S.U.C.C.E.S.S.) will receive funding to form a strategy for delivering crucial information regarding Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) to Canadian immigrants before they arrive in Canada. The project, which was announced at BCIT, is being undertaken in partnership with BCIT, Campus Canada and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
"BCIT has a number of affiliations with educational institutes in Asia, and we recognize that the development of education and training opportunities in this region's emerging economy will allow us to give immigrants the current skills and knowledge required by Canadian employers," said Ken Florkow, BCIT's Director of Strategic Initiatives. "By using Campus Canada's online record of Learning, project participants will be able to validate their qualifications and determine what education and training gaps need to be addressed before they can be fully integrated into the Canadian workforce," said Peter Donkers, Campus Canada's Executive Director. Campus Canada is a national partnership of colleges, polytechnical institutes and universities that offer online and distance education specifically for working adults.
"We will use our knowledge of immigrant settlement and employment needs, our relationships with both the Chinese immigrant and broader communities, and our well-developed partnerships and networks to bridge the needs of both employers and skilled immigrants," said Tung Chan, Chief Executive Officer of S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
The Government's FCR program has made significant progress in developing and strengthening Canada's infrastructure for recognizing new Canadians' credentials. At present, the program is focusing its efforts on the health and engineering professions. The FCR program is also concentrating on building FCR capacity overseas, and helping employers in non-regulated occupations develop their own processes for recognizing foreign credentials.
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For more information (media only):
Jennifer ChiuPress SecretaryOffice of the Minister of International Trade and Minister for the Pacific Gateway and the Vancouver-Whistler Olympics613-992-7332
Media Relations OfficeHuman Resources andSocial Development Canada819-994-5559
BACKGROUNDER
Funding Recipient:British Columbia Institute of Technology, Campus Canada and S.U.C.C.E.S.S.
Description of Project:Competencies, Credentials and Careers in Canada: A model for Overseas Integrated Services - to design an implementation plan and forge the initial partnerships necessary to deliver overseas information services, assessment services, skills upgrading, Canadian workplace experience opportunities and enhanced settlement support to skilled immigrants prior to and upon their arrival in Canada.
Funding: $215,538
