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2005-13
GOVERNMENT OF CANADA ANNOUNCES INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED
WORKERS INITIATIVE
OTTAWA, April 25, 2005 — The Government of
Canada today launched the Internationally Trained Workers
Initiative, delivering on the commitment made in the Speech
from the Throne to improve the integration of immigrants and
internationally trained Canadians into the work force. The
launch was held simultaneously in Toronto and Vancouver.
“For Canada to succeed in the 21st century economy and
ensure our quality of life, we must continually improve the
quality of our work force,” said the Honourable Lucienne
Robillard, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada,
Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs, and Minister of Human
Resources and Skills Development, in announcing the
comprehensive strategy in Toronto. “We look forward to working
with partners to ensure that everyone can use their skills and
abilities, no matter where they received their training, so
that they—and Canada—can benefit to the fullest.”
Today’s announcement includes the following:
- The launch of the Government of Canada’s initiative to
help address shortages of health-care professionals by
providing $75 million over the next five years to improve
the integration of internationally trained doctors, nurses
and other health-care professionals into the Canadian
system;
- The launch of the Government of Canada’s Foreign
Credential Recognition program, with $68 million in funding
over six years to facilitate the assessment and recognition
of foreign qualifications for both regulated and
non-regulated occupations;
- The launch of the Government of Canada’s on-line Going
to Canada Immigration Internet Portal, to be implemented in
cooperation with the provinces and territories. This is part
of a $100 million commitment to an improved and integrated
service delivery strategy. The portal will help prospective
immigrants make informed decisions about coming to Canada
and prepare for the Canadian labour market and society
before they arrive;
- A commitment to provide $20 million a year in ongoing
funding to the Enhanced Language Training initiative, which
helps immigrants acquire the language skills necessary to
obtain and retain jobs commensurate with their level of
skill and experience. This initiative complements the
$140 million a year being spent to provide basic language
training to immigrants outside of Quebec; and
- The government’s recently launched Action Plan Against
Racism, with $56 million over five years for a series of
measures to combat the discrimination Canadians sometimes
face, including in the workplace, and to help realize
Canada’s vision of an inclusive and equitable society.
“With this initiative, we are addressing many of the
challenges that immigrants and internationally trained
Canadians face when starting a career in Canada,” said the
Honourable Hedy Fry, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister
of Citizenship and Immigration, in Vancouver. “When the Prime
Minister asked me to lead this comprehensive and integrated
interdepartmental initiative, it became clear that the
Government of Canada could not accomplish this alone. We need
to build on partnerships with stakeholders who have
jurisdiction in many of the areas that require intervention if
we are to achieve common success.”
These actions are part of a coordinated strategy to bring
the skills and experience of internationally trained
professionals into the Canadian labour market. Provincial and
territorial governments are essential partners. The Government
of Canada will also work with cities and communities, service
providers, employers, labour, professional and regulatory
bodies, post-secondary educational institutions, the business
community itself, and other stakeholders to find national,
coherent solutions to this challenge.
“Immigration is vital to our economic and social
development, but for a variety of reasons some immigrants face
difficulties integrating into the work force and society,” the
Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Citizenship and Immigration,
told representatives of professional associations, regulators,
employers, educators and immigrants in Toronto. “The
Internationally Trained Workers Initiative reflects this
government’s commitment to equality of opportunity and our
understanding that Canada’s diversity is a source of strength
and innovation.”
“We are taking direct action to fulfil the commitment we
made last September when the First Ministers unanimously
agreed on the Ten-Year Plan to Strengthen Health Care,” said
the Honourable Ujjal Dosanjh, Minister of Health, in
Vancouver. “This initiative will help address shortages of
health-care professionals and improve Canadians’ access to
high-quality care. It supports our efforts with the provinces
and territories to renew the health system and ensure it is
sustainable.”
On March 21, the Minister of State (Multiculturalism),
Raymond Chan, launched Canada’s first-ever Action Plan Against
Racism. “We have just unveiled, as part of our Action Plan
Against Racism, the Racism-Free Workplace Strategy,” said the
Honourable Raymond Chan, in Vancouver. “The goal of this
strategy is to eliminate all discriminatory barriers to
employment and to ensure full inclusion in the workplace. To
this end, we have also initiated projects through the
multiculturalism program that actively involve internationally
trained workers in overcoming barriers based on foreign
credential recognition. Only by working together can we ensure
that everyone has the opportunity to achieve their potential
and contribute fully to Canadian society.”
The Internationally Trained Workers Initiative has been
developed in partnership with a broad variety of stakeholders,
who have been consulted in a series of roundtables across
Canada by the Honourable Hedy Fry. Some 14 federal departments
and agencies are working on the initiative in close
collaboration with provincial and territorial governments,
regulators and various stakeholders.
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For more information, see the attached
backgrounders:
For more information:
Michael O’Shaughnessy
Director of Communications
Office of Minister Lucienne Robillard
(819) 994-2482
Media relations office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(819) 994-5559
Stephen Heckbert
Director of Communications
Office of the Minister Joe Volpe
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 954-1064
Maria Iadinardi
Media Relations
Communications Branch
Citizenship and Immigration Canada
(613) 952-0740
Adèle Blanchard
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Health
(613) 957-0200
Health Canada
Media Relations
(613) 957-2983
Roy Bornmann
Special Assistant
Office of the Minister of State (Multiculturalism)
(819) 997-9900
Myriam Brochu
Chief, Media Relations
Canadian Heritage
(613) 997-9314
Alec Morrison
Office of the Honourable Hedy Fry
Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Citizenship
and Immigration
(613) 992-3213
Visit the following Internet Sites at:
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