Just to build on what Carol said about the first ministers' commitment, to respond to Monsieur Malo as well as to respond in part to Dr. Bennett's question earlier, first ministers, as Carol has said, have asked for the framework by September of this year.
In leading up to the first ministers meeting in January of this year, the forum of labour market ministers, right up to the ministerial level, all agreed that not only would they recommend to their premiers as well as to the Prime Minister what was needed and what labour market ministers were needed to be directed to do, but they also outlined a timeframe, and that was that within 12 months of the receipt of a full application for licensure, internationally trained individuals would have an answer as to whether they would be able to be licensed or not.
If they would not be able to be licensed, they would be provided with information on what further was needed. If they had no chance at all in being licensed, they would be given information on alternative occupations where they could use their experience, their expertise, and their training in an associated field.
So this is an important issue, in that for the very first time the issue of foreign qualification recognition has been squarely on the agenda of the premiers and the Prime Minister, and for the very first time we have seen a clear timeline and target that we are looking to achieve.
They also indicated that, where possible, the credential assessment and recognition processes would begin overseas. Again, we feel that beginning overseas will save some time in the process. Instead of allowing physicians to come to Canada and spend two to three years trying to figure out the system and having to perform other duties or other employment, they could in fact use the time in the immigration process while they were still in their home country to get at these issues in advance. That would save them from moving to Canada with their families and not being able to practise their profession. It would also save the country in terms of economics.