Immigration.ca - Canada Immigration News - May 2007
On May 24th 2007, the federal government announced its intent to move forward with the highly-anticipated and much-needed Foreign Credentials Referral Office. Canada's Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, Diane Finley, outlined the first phase of the project that had been promised repeatedly during political campaigning.
"Too many newcomers can't get jobs they have been trained for." said Finley. "Today, we are delivering on our commitment to do something about it."
The strategies of the new office will include 320 in-person and phone service outlets by fall 2007, easier access to information online, reaching out to employers in an attempt to raise awareness and working directly with the provinces to expediate licensing for pre-approved provincial nominee healthcare professionals.
The new office has been dedicated funds totaling over $73 million. The program will operate directly under Human Resources and Social Development Canada which, the government says, will vastly improve the system's efficiency (as the HRSDC formerly operated independantly of Citizenship and Immigration).
Both businesses and immigrant advocates seem pleased by the announcement. They predict that the program will attract more skilled workers to fill the growing labour needs.
