HUMA Committee Report

Recommendation 1

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to support bridging programs that put a particular emphasis on profession-specific language training, work experience, identification of skill gaps, and supports to fill those gaps. The Committee further recommends that bridging programs and program stakeholders engage in practices that use data sharing to improve the understanding of recruitment and retention patterns and workforce outcomes.

Recommendation 2

The Committee recommends that Citizenship and Immigration Canada expand the scope of the Canadian Immigrant Integration Project, in countries where it is currently offered, and consider offering it in other countries, if required.

Recommendation 3

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to improve its Working in Canada website so as to ensure that internationally trained individuals have access to user-friendly quality information about foreign qualifications recognition before they make the decision to move to Canada.

Recommendation 4

The Committee recommends that Citizenship and Immigration Canada consider approaching provincial and territorial regulatory authorities to discuss the possibility of prequalifying internationally trained individuals for certain occupations as part of the immigration process.

Recommendation 5

The Committee recommends that the federal government study the foreign qualifications recognition model used in Australia and advise Citizenship and Immigration Canada on any positive elements that could be applied to the Canadian system.

Recommendation 6

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada increase its efforts in support of the development of mutual recognition agreements.

Recommendation 7

The Committee recommends that the federal government act as a model employer with regard to internship opportunities for internationally trained individuals by maintaining such initiatives as Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Federal Internship for Newcomers Program and consider increasing the number of interns accepted into the program, if resources allow.

Recommendation 8

The Committee recommends that Citizenship and Immigration Canada extend the public service mentoring pilot project beyond 2012 and report on the results.

Recommendation 9

The Committee recommends that the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications be extended beyond 31 December 2012, to include more occupations, for example skilled trades.

Recommendation 10

The Committee recommends that Human Resources and Skills Development Canada explore the possibility of extending the reach of this program to target more occupations facing current labour shortages or expected to face such shortages in the near future, including for example skilled trades.

Recommendation 11

The Committee recommends that the authorities responsible for the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications ensure that they have all the information needed to target occupations in which there will be a labour shortage and to evaluate foreign qualification recognition programs, and that they release that information to the public, for example in an annual report.

Recommendation 12

The Committee recommends that the federal government explore ways of streamlining and simplifying the administrative process used to recognize foreign qualifications. A single point of contact at the federal level could provide all the necessary information currently given by the Foreign Credentials Referral Office of Citizenship and Immigration Canada and by the Foreign Credential Recognition Program of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada.

Recommendation 13

The Committee recommends that funding for the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications and its related programs be maintained at least at the 2011–2012 level.

Recommendation 14

Since many internationally trained individuals cannot obtain financial assistance to complete skills upgrading, bridging programs, or educational and professional certification examinations, the committee recommends that the federal government make permanent and expand the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Program if results of this pilot are proven effective.

Recommendation 15

The Committee recommends that the federal government’s representatives on the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship encourage the provincial representatives to explore the possibility of holding some of the exams set under the Interprovincial Red Seal Standards Program in countries where that is possible, the United States in particular.

Recommendation 16

The Government of Canada acknowledges that human resources planning in health care is an area of provincial and territorial jurisdiction. The Committee recommends that Health Canada, with the approval and collaboration of the provincial and territorial governments, continue to support the database that tracks international medical graduates, with the aim of identifying and filling gaps in doctor availability across Canada.

Recommendation 17

The Committee supports the continued collection of data by the Canadian Institute for Health Information for health human resources management and recommends that Health Canada explore the possibility of helping create a national centre for the collection and analysis of data on human resources in the health sector should such an option prove to be fiscally prudent given the current period of fiscal restraint.

Recommendation 18

The Government of Canada acknowledges that the certification of international medical graduates (IMGs) is an area of provincial and territorial jurisdiction. The Committee recommends that the Government of Canada, with the approval and collaboration of the provinces and territories, endorse the standardization of the assessment and qualification process in place in provincial and territorial licensing colleges for IMGs across Canada.

Recommendation 19

The Government of Canada acknowledges that the certification of international medical graduates (IMGs) is an area of provincial and territorial jurisdiction. The Committee recommends that collaboration be pursued to set a clear pathway and to increase opportunities for IMGs to obtain residency training positions and have access to transition programs in an effort to successfully certify and integrate medical professionals into practice in Canada, without compromising access to training for Canadian-trained medical students.

Recommendation 20

The Committee recommends that the federal government conduct an awareness raising campaign targeted at employers, who are primarily responsible for the recognition of foreign qualifications in unregulated occupations. The campaign should focus on recognition of foreign qualifications and the advantages of hiring internationally trained individuals.

Recommendation 21

The Committee recommends that the federal government provide newcomers with more information on settling outside major urban centres to take advantage of employment opportunities, for example those in unregulated occupations.