The pandemic has resulted in worker shortages across many industries, including in the health sector. However, internationally educated health professionals too often face challenges in getting their credentials recognized in Canada in order to access quality jobs in healthcare. To prioritize getting skilled newcomers into the job markets where they are needed most, the Government of Canada is investing in projects that will help them put their education and skills to work sooner.
Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced funding for nine projects under the Foreign Credential Recognition Program. This investment will help improve foreign credential recognition and help skilled newcomers gain Canadian work experience in the health sector. Minister Qualtrough made the announcement today with Halton Multicultural Council (HMC) Connections, McGill University - School of Physical & Occupational Therapy, and the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators.
HMC Connections is receiving funding for its Career Accelerator for Foreign Trained Health Professionals in the COVID Environment project. With this investment, the Council will be able to facilitate Canadian work experience for highly skilled internationally trained healthcare professionals with a focus on establishing long-term sustainable employment in their field of study. This will assist in alleviating the current pandemic and future demand on the health and social service sectors.
McGill University - School of Physical & Occupational Therapy is receiving funding for its Serving Canadian Rehabilitation Needs: McGill Physical Therapy Bridging Program project. With this investment, McGill will be able to formalize their Physical Therapy (PT) Equivalency Training pilot program project into an official McGill University PT Bridging Program that will allow English-speaking Internationally Educated Physical Therapists (IEPTs) to receive official certification from McGill University. It will also enable IEPTs to register and obtain licensure with the Ordre Professionnel de la Physiothérapie du Québec.
Finally, the Canadian Council for Practical Nurse Regulators is receiving funding for its Language Proficiency Requirements for Safe Nursing Practice in Canada project. With this investment, the Council will review, update and validate the benchmarks for acceptable English and French language proficiency levels in the licensure and registration of International Educated Nurses in Canada.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program funds provinces and territories, regulatory authorities and organizations to increase efficiency and timeliness of foreign credential recognition processes as well as to provide loans and employment supports (e.g., work placements, mentoring) to help skilled newcomers work in their field of expertise.
