CIMM Committee Report

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada offer pre-departure foreign credential recognition services to all immigration classes at the priority locations of China, India, the Philippines, and the United Kingdom.

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada consider the implementation of a financial incentive program for employers to create short-term work experience opportunities. The appropriate delivery mechanism(s) for such a program should take into account the circumstances of employers of different sizes, industries, and locations.

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada implement workplace experience programs such as the Young Newcomers Internship Program and the Immigrant Internship Pilot Program in all federal departments and that the targets for these two programs be expanded.

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada work with the provincial and territorial governments to create a loan program for immigrants to access foreign credential recognition programs.

Recommendation 5

Whereas the Committee recognizes that recent immigrants to Canada are overrepresented in poverty, unemployment, and underemployment rates in this country, the Committee recommends that the Government of Canada use all available resources, including financial and fiscal incentives, to alleviate the aforementioned challenges faced by immigrants.

Recommendation 6

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada redouble efforts to hire and retain visible minorities, in keeping with commitments under the Employment Equity Act.

Recommendation 7

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada introduce an ombudsman’s office where prospective employees could take their complaints about the hiring process for employers under federal jurisdiction, including the federal government.

Recommendation 8

The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada renew the funding for the International Educated Health Professionals Initiative for another five year period and transfer to the Government of Quebec its fare share of such funding so that the Government of Quebec can fund its own credential recognition process, pursuant to the Federal-Provincial agreement of September 15, 2004 (Quebec Clause).