Actually, I am a member of the Filipino Association of Nova Scotia, but I just came here to share with you my experience in Canada.
The title of my brief is “Why Canada Should Give Her Immigrants a Chance for a Better Life by Recognizing their Foreign Credentials”. It is my objective to show the committee that it is vital for the government to break down the walls that prevent qualified immigrants from working in jobs that are in line with their training.
I learned from the e-mail sent to me by the Honourable Alexa McDonough, the member of Parliament, that the House of Commons Standing Committee on Human Resources, Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities would be holding public hearings on matters relating to employability in Canada. As a concerned citizen of Nova Scotia, a former landed immigrant, and now a full-fledged Canadian citizen, I would like to share with you my views on this matter, based on my personal experiences.
I chose to settle in Nova Scotia because I had an aunt who lived in this province. I applied as a landed immigrant seven years and seven months ago. The process was based on the points system, and because of my profession, work experience, and other factors, my application was approved. I had my credentials assessed in Toronto by the Pharmacy Examining Board of Canada, and I was allowed to take the pharmacy equivalency exam, which is a prerequisite for foreign graduate pharmacists to be able to take the board exam. Unfortunately, I did not pass the equivalency exam. To make ends meet and to pursue my dreams of living in Canada, I needed to find a job in the valley where my aunt lived. However, after submitting 100 résumés, I did not receive any calls for interviews. Then I decided to move to the city of Halifax, with the hope that I would be able to find a job that would give me the Canadian experience that the employers were looking for. I wondered why employers were looking for Canadian experience from newly arrived immigrants.
On my second day in Halifax, I met two new friends who were compatriots. I told them about my situation and right away they contacted another friend who was working in the housekeeping department of a hotel. I was recommended by my new-found friend to her supervisor, and during my job interview I mentioned to the supervisor that I wished they would give me the chance to get the Canadian experience that every employer was looking for. I was finally hired. Then I worked in that hotel for seven months. During that time I continued to apply for a pharmacy technician job in all the different retail pharmacies in the city, and I was not hired. The work in the hotel was my bread and butter, but I was also worried that my self-confidence was slipping away because I was stuck in a job that was not in any way related to my profession. So I decided to seek the advice of the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association. They helped me with my résumé and they tried to find a job for me, but would-be employers would rather hire me as a nanny.
I was losing hope of ever practising my profession or even getting a job as a pharmacy technician in Canada. After I quit my job in the hotel, I applied for a job at Sobeys and I was hired as a stock clerk. It was there that I had a chance to familiarize myself with the over-the-counter products in their pharmacy. I decided to work as a volunteer pharmacy technician in one of the Lawtons drug outlets. After volunteering as a pharmacy technician in Lawtons and Sobeys, I was hoping I would be hired in one of their pharmacies, but I was not. I also tried applying in all the Shoppers pharmacies, but the result was the same--no luck.
This time, I decided to seek the advice of the president of the Pharmacy Association of Nova Scotia. She was very helpful and accommodating, and she interviewed me. I gave her a copy of my résumé and she had my name published in their newsletter. After two weeks, I received a phone call from the company that was providing workers for the Department of National Defence. I was interviewed and hired as a part-time store clerk and a pharmacy technician. Slowly, I gained back my self-confidence.
I thought I needed a professional review, so I inquired at the College of Pharmacy at Dalhousie University if they were offering refresher courses for foreign graduates, but they did not have one. I also checked on different Canadian websites, but courses were only available in Ontario and British Columbia.
I wanted to move to either Toronto or Vancouver, but I could not find a job so that I could make my big move.
Foreign graduates are also required to pass the English as a second language exam, or the test of English as a foreign language. I did take the test of English as a foreign language while I was in the Philippines, and it was valid for four years only. It was only recently that they made amendments to this validity.
Based on my experience, I am therefore submitting a number of proposals to the committee. First is that the Province of Nova Scotia should encourage its educational institutions to offer refresher or related courses that immigrants can access in preparation for their licensing exams. Said courses can be offered as night classes or through distance education or correspondence programs.
The second is that employers give new immigrants the chance to be employed by considering their work experience in their country of origin--subject, of course, to the necessary adjustments for differences in systems or standards.
Third is that government agencies like the Metropolitan Immigrant Settlement Association do their part by helping immigrants find a niche through placement assistance on jobs related to their training.
And finally, the Government of Canada should fully implement its program for recognizing foreign credentials.
I thank the committee for giving me the chance to submit this paper. It is my hope that my recommendations will benefit our concerned policy-makers in making their plans a tangible reality, which in turn sets the pace for a progressive Nova Scotia.
I thank you, and good day.