Canada’s immigration policies offer Canadian permanent residence and fast track work permits to more than 500,000 applicants each year and Federal Employment Minister Jason Kenney says it’s an unacceptable waste that skilled workers who come to Canada can’t find jobs. But the problem is not due to a lack of employment opportunities.
It is the non-recognition of foreign credentials that poses the biggest problem for migrant workers looking for work in Canada. Addressing this issue in West Vancouver, Kenney announced a $3.3 million funding package for the B.C. government to improve the recognition process of foreign credentials, thus helping more immigrants find work.
This funding aims to cover over 30 projects that will help remove the barriers faced by newcomers who are trained overseas, with a particular focus in B.C. especially in the energy and resource sectors.
These projects include helping employers remove obstacles for new Canadians entering the workforce, making available more information online that promotes in-demand jobs in Canada and working with regulators to hasten the credential-recognition process.
According to B.C. Attorney General Suzanne Anton, with one million expected job openings in the province by 2020, it’s not good to let a group of people languish who are skilled but not certified in Canada.
Kenney also wants the government to benefit from the “dysfunctional” American immigration system, which includes attracting young graduates from abroad by offering an expedited visa track to this country.
Source: vancouversun.com
