Absolutely.
All of us are aware of the difficulties that many internationally trained individuals face when entering the Canadian labour market in finding jobs that match their skills and experience levels.
Recognizing the complexity of the FCR process and the need to improve labour market outcomes of skilled immigrants, the Government of Canada established the Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) in May 2007, with a mandate to provide internationally trained individuals with the information, path-finding and referral services they need to have their credentials assessed and recognized as quickly as possible and find work in their field of expertise.
Internationally trained individuals need to have their credentials recognized in Canada by the licensing bodies that regulate professions and trades, or by employers who hire workers in non-regulated occupations. We know that immigrants who have their credentials assessed and recognized within their first year of landing experience better labour market outcomes and have a greater chance of finding jobs that match their skills and experience. The longer immigrants stay away from their profession, the less likely they are to gain employment within their field. Moving quickly through the FCR and licensure process is critical to preventing skills atrophying and to ensuring that immigrants can quickly contribute to Canada's economic prosperity.
To help with this, the FCRO collaborates with federal partners, such as HRSDC and Health Canada, the provinces and territories, regulatory bodies, credential assessment agencies, industry associations, and employers to offer services in Canada and overseas.
One area of such collaboration is the pan-Canadian framework for the assessment and recognition of foreign qualifications. The FCRO has been supporting the development and implementation of the framework since 2009, with a particular emphasis on improving pre-arrival information supports.
In addition to the provision of innovative counselling abroad, the FCRO, together with other governments and key partners, has provided contribution funding to a variety of stakeholders, including the Canadian Nurses Association and the Canadian Council of Professional Engineers, to explore and develop overseas tools, services, and strategies such as online self-assessment modules, mentoring initiatives, and employer recruitment of internationally trained individuals.
Projects like these help immigrants start as many steps as they can in having their credentials recognized before arriving in Canada, which makes them more likely to have greater success in finding jobs that match their skills and experience sooner.
Another significant initiative to support immigrants so that they can hit the ground running once they arrive in Canada is the Canadian immigrant integration program, or CIIP. In October 2010, the FCRO took over the responsibility for the CIIP from HRSDC and expanded its reach and services. This program is delivered in partnership with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges and provides federal skilled workers and provincial nominees, as well as their spouses and working-age dependents, with a two-day orientation session to the labour market and FCR processes in Canada. Immigrants who participate in these sessions receive individual counselling and develop action plans that prepare them for their settlement post-landing. CIIP services are offered in Manila, Philippines; Guangzhou, China; New Delhi, India; and London, United Kingdom. And satellite services are available to Southeast Asia, northern Europe, and the Persian Gulf. By having the CIIP located in these four countries, the FCRO can potentially reach 75% of federal skilled workers and 44% of provincial nominee applicants in up to 25 countries.
As of June 2011, nearly 19,000 internationally trained individuals had registered for CIIP services, and over 13,000 had completed the two-day information session. Preliminary results indicate a marked improvement in labour market outcomes of those who participated in the CIIP sessions overseas. For example, a survey of the CIIP conducted in September 2010 found that of the 1,051 graduates in Canada, 62% found employment in the first six months after arrival. The survey also found that CIIP participants who followed their individual job search plans were more likely to find work within their area of specialization.
Additional services and tools for internationally trained individuals at both the pre- and post-arrival phase include our website, www.credentials.gc.ca., which has products such as Planning to work in Canada? An essential workbook for newcomers, a step-by-step guide that helps prospective or recently arrived newcomers gather information about living and working in Canada. The Employer's Roadmap to Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers is a guide for employers in small to medium size businesses interested in hiring internationally trained individuals. As of August 31, 2011, the FCRO website had received over 1.9 million visits, an increase of over 42% from last year.
Furthermore, information services at more than 245 outreach sites and over 320 Service Canada centres help internationally trained individuals navigate the FCR process. To date, Service Canada has received over 100,000 in-person visits and 10,000 calls requesting information on regulated and non-regulated occupations, the trades, and the services provided by FCRO.
In addition to these supports, the FCRO also promotes discussion and information-sharing amongst stakeholders who are responsible for assessing, licensing and hiring internationally trained individuals.
This fall, the International Qualifications Network (IQN) will be launched and will provide a one-stop informations site for foreign credential recognition activities which afford employers, government, immigrant service providers, regulatory bodies and academics the opportunity to uphold and share best practices and use this information for their own needs.
The FCRO's information products are important tools that help internationally trained individuals understand the FCR process. But gaining Canadian work experience is a significant hurdle for many immigrants trying to integrate into the labour market. One way the Government of Canada has responded to this challenge has been by creating the federal internship for newcomers program, or FIN. Delivered through the FCRO in partnership with HRSDC and other federal departments and agencies, the FIN program is an innovative initiative that provides qualified newcomers at both entry and mid-career levels with an opportunity to acquire temporary work experience within the federal public service in fields relevant to their education and skills levels.
In addition to the FIN program, CIC is partnering with three immigrant-serving organizations in Ottawa, Toronto, and Calgary to launch a public service mentoring pilot program for newcomers. It's expected to be in place this fall. Through this initiative, newcomers will be matched with public servants in their respective profession or occupation with a view to expanding their professional networks, furthering their awareness and understanding of the Canadian workplace, and enhancing their career objectives and employment search strategies.
In closing, although foreign credential recognition remains a challenge for many immigrants trying to enter the Canadian labour market, federal, provincial and federal organizations are working together and making progress towards minimizing the barriers faced when trying to find employment in Canada. More needs to be done to simplify the process and improve labour market outcomes, which is why the FCRO is focusing on providing information and supports to internationally trained workers as early as possible in the immigration process.
Internationally trained individuals have a key role to play in Canada's economic prosperity, both now and in the future, which is why it is so important that they fully utilize their skills, education, and experience as soon as possible.
Thank you, Mr. Chair. I hope this has provided you with a helpful overview of the work of the FCRO.