• The development of the immigration portal is a 5 year initiative. The preliminary launch of the portal is planned for July 2004.
• HRSDC is also involved in Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR), the targeting of foreign students may be one way of addressing credential recognition issues. Although it is essential to find a way to assist immigrants in the area of FCR, HRSDC is also looking as improvements in the area of recognition of learning for all Canadians. HRSDC’s priorities for enhancing the recognition of learning include:
  • Mobility of labour market credentials across provinces and territories;
  • Foreign Credential Recognition;
  • Recognition of workplace learning; and
  • Transferability of academic credits among institutions across provincial/territorial boundaries.

Sectoral Approaches and Recognition of Foreign Credentials
Corinne Prince St-Amand, Director, Skills Information, Human Resources Partnerships Directorate, Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC)

• HRSDC will have a more specific Workplace Skills Strategy by this fall, however the programs and activities that form the basis of a Workplace Skills Strategy include:
  • Sector Council Program;
  • Apprenticeship;
  • Essential Skills and Workplace Literacy;
  • Foreign Credential Recognition;
  • Labour Mobility.
• The Government of Canada Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Strategy includes:
  • Working with provinces, territories and regulatory bodies to address the top three priority regulated occupations – Doctors, Nurses and Engineers with a view to integrating them more effectively into the labour market;
  • Working with the Sector Councils to address the non-regulated occupations, including the development of a tool to sensitize employers to FCR issues and work towards bridging the needs of employers with the pool of approved immigrants;
  • Working bilaterally and multilaterally with provinces and territories;
  • Establishing the immigration internet portal, led by CIC.
• The following federal government departments are working collaboratively to develop a broad Government of Canada Action Plan on FCR: HRSDC, CIC, Health Canada, Canadian Heritage, Industry Canada, Department of Foreign Affaires and International Trade.
• In addition, in every province and territory, work on FCR is being done by four ministries, immigration, education, labour and health.
• Progress is being made in the area of improving and streamlining licensure practices and procedures for international medical graduates and engineers, and HRSDC is working with the Canadian Nurses Association and the Council of Technicians and Technologists to undertake diagnostic work in FCR for their related professions.