Human Resources committee  Absolutely.

Human Resources committee  I'm not sure; on top of mind it doesn't come back to me.

Human Resources committee  Yes. Before coming to this presentation we had a lengthy conversation about the various factors. The thing that really struck me was the extent to which the factors that are at play are complex. I think there are two sides to the equation, certainly in terms of completion. If we talk about completion, I think the role of the employer, as I said in my speech, is really critical.

Human Resources committee  We have just one presentation, and they're here for support on questions and answers on the related programs.

Human Resources committee  Good morning, Mr. Chair and distinguished members of the committee. On behalf of HRSDC, I would like to thank you for the opportunity to speak with you today. My name is Jean-François LaRue. I'm the director general of the labour market integration directorate in the skills and employment branch.

Human Resources committee  In terms of all of the work we're doing, obviously money is often at the core of the partnerships we have with many stakeholders. There are a lot of by-products that emerge from those agreements we have. For instance, when we work with a number of provincial governments—I kind of call that seed money—there is a discussion and a change in mindset that evolves.

Human Resources committee  I'll let Mr. Wells talk about our efforts with the medical profession in terms of developing a database to track what's happening to international medical graduates.

Human Resources committee  Are you referring to the suite of labour market agreements and labour market development agreements we have with the provinces? I'm not sure what you're referring to specifically.

Human Resources committee  As I indicated in my opening remarks, in budget 2011 we recently announced an initiative to provide loans to recent immigrants and Canadians who have studied abroad. The reason is that when they come back to this country often they don't have a credit rating and it's very hard for them to access funding of that sort.

Human Resources committee  I think this is a fairly important issue, in the sense that, as my colleague Mr. Walsh indicated, FCR is a multi-dimensional issue. The first time I appeared here I think I elaborated quite a bit about the fact that there is an education angle to this issue. There's also a labour angle and there's a health angle.

Human Resources committee  I don't know that it's specifically from the U.S., but we do have the Red Seal program working with the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship. Any time that they consider an occupation to be certified as red seal, there is a process. There needs to be a sponsoring provincial government, and it must be brought forward by that sponsoring province.

Human Resources committee  At the present moment we are right in the midst of implementing the Pan-Canadian framework, and this is part of the targeted occupations. The Red Seal program is not under my purview. It's difficult for me right now to tell you whether the recommendations are available publicly, but I'll be glad to forward them to the clerk of the committee if they are.

Human Resources committee  There is a clear mandate for the CCDA working on the Red Seal program. CCDA is an institution under the Forum of Labour Market Ministers that examines the issues related to apprenticeship.

Human Resources committee  Well, that's more a question for politicians and decision-makers to address. In terms of whether or not we think this is an important issue, clearly, given that we're investing a lot of resources in the Red Seal program and the CCDA, we know that for sure, as part of the framework, what there is.

Human Resources committee  If I can add, HRSDC also works with many of the regulatory bodies in furthering the establishment of mutual recognition agreements as well as putting in place processes that make sense for mid-career professionals who come from overseas. Maybe Jonathan Wells could talk rapidly about just one of our projects, like the one with accountants, and the bridging measures and some of the mutual recognition agreements we've encouraged through some occupations.