TORONTO, ONTARIO, November 5, 2010 - The Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories and regulatory authorities to help dietitians work anywhere in Canada, wherever opportunities may exist.
Senator Linda Frum, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced support to Dietitians of Canada to establish a national set of competencies for entry-level practitioners.
"Our government is taking concrete action to make full labour mobility a reality," said Senator Frum. "It benefits workers and employers alike; workers have a wider range of opportunities, and employers have a larger and richer pool of qualified candidates."
Dietitians of Canada, on behalf of the Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice, will receive over $360,000 to create a standardized assessment process that will allow dietitians to work anywhere in Canada without having their credentials re certified.
The Government of Canada partners with the provinces and territories and key stakeholders to enhance labour mobility and improve foreign credential recognition in Canada. This is part of the Government's strategy to strengthen the Canadian economy and improve the standard of living of all Canadians.
Canada's Economic Action Plan built upon this strategy by providing additional support to help Canadians recover from the economic downturn and prepare for the economy of the future.
To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca.
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This news release is available in alternative formats on request.
For further information (media only):
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
819-994-5559
Dietitians of Canada is the national professional association for dietitians, representing almost 6 000 members. The organization is one of the largest bodies of dietetic professionals in the world. The Partnership for Dietetic Education and Practice is a new partnership between representatives from regulatory, educational and professional sectors that works collectively toward the advancement of the dietetic profession in Canada and the safety and quality of dietetic services.
The Agreement on Internal Trade, which was signed by all provinces and territories and the Government of Canada, came into effect in 1995 with the goal of facilitating the movement of people, investments and services across Canada. In August 2009, changes to Chapter 7 of the Agreement, which addressed inter-provincial mobility, were endorsed by all parties. These amendments ensure that any worker who is certified for a regulated occupation in one province or territory can be certified in any other province or territory.
Labour mobility refers to the freedom of workers to practise their occupation or trade wherever opportunities exist. While most Canadians can now benefit from full labour mobility, exceptions to full labour mobility exist in certain provinces and territories for some occupations. Information on exceptions is available on the Internal Trade Secretariat's website.
The Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications articulates a new national vision, guiding principles and desired outcomes for improving the assessment and recognition of newcomers' qualifications in cooperation with the provinces and territories. Under the Framework, recognition of foreign credentials will be streamlined for key occupations, including some health care professions. Once licensed in Canada, internationally trained professionals will also be able to move freely between provinces and territories without having their credentials re-certified.
