TORONTO, ONTARIO, JANUARY 25, 2011-The Government of Canada is helping social workers practise their profession anywhere in Canada, wherever opportunities may exist.
Mr. Dean Del Mastro, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced support to the Canadian Council of Social Work Regulators to establish entry-level requirements for registered social workers, so they can work anywhere in the country without having to re-certify their credentials.
"Our government is taking concrete action to make full labour mobility a reality," said Mr. Del Mastro. "It benefits workers and employers alike; workers have a wider range of opportunities, and employers have a larger and richer pool of qualified candidates."
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 address labour shortages and strengthen the economy.
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
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 ratified 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 at http://www.ait-aci.ca/index_en.htm.
Under the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, the Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories and other partners to address barriers to foreign credential recognition. Once licensed in Canada, internationally trained professionals will also be able to move freely between provinces and territories without having to re-certify their credentials.
