Canada’s healthcare sector witnessed project proposals to help Internationally Educated Healthcare Professionals work in the sector. Sean Fraser declared these proposals on December 5, 2022. At a recent press conference, he announced the proposals for IEHPs so that they can acquire the required expertise, experience, and local credentials. Also, they get a chance to make proper use of their skills and talents.
Fraser declared this on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Disability Inclusion, and Workforce Development, Carla Qualtrough.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program managed the proposals, a federal program helping Foreign Credential Recognition by providing funds to the government and other organizations.
Fraser declared the $90 million investment in the FCRP for the selected projects.
Project eligibility criteria according to the recent announcement:
- The project must be able to decrease the ongoing hurdles related to the FCRP. It shall do so by improving the recognition procedures, curtailing the various stages of recognition, and providing more access to field practice.
- It must also assist the IEHPs in gaining considerable work experience in their specific industries. Additionally, it must help them with other support services, such as mentoring, transportation, mentoring, and coaching.
- Easing out the labor mobility between Canadian jurisdictions for IEHPs and professionals in the healthcare sector. Furthermore, this will only reduce the barriers related to administration and structure. This specifically caters the healthcare professionals who wish to work in another jurisdiction.
Canada’s Healthcare Sector- few eligibility requirements for projects
Moreover, some additional eligibility criteria for the projects are given below:
- The projects must have the ability to test and execute credential recognition systems by focusing on reduced regulatory procedures and balancing the occupational standards. Doing so will help improve international credential recognition and increase interprovincial labor mobility.
- Additionally, it will also help provide job positions, wage subsidies, and training for the IEHPs. Providing them with all this will further integrate them into Canada’s labor market.
- Notably, the proposals will remain acceptable until January 30, 2023. Also, successful projects will also acquire at least $500,000 and funding up to $10 million.
The reason behind Canada’s initiative
Currently, Canada is undergoing acute labor shortages across various industries. These include healthcare, retail, tourism, and seasonal agriculture. While giving his speech, Sean Fraser stated that 47 percent of skilled newcomers with overseas healthcare education fall either under the jobless category or underemployed in professions that aren’t related to health, requiring only high-school certification.
As a response, Canada also introduced a measure to remove barriers for healthcare workers to tread the path of permanent residence. Reportedly, Physicians possessing any Canadian temporary status will have the eligibility for economic immigration even if they hold a self-employed status on paper.
Moreover, immigrants holding a foreign degree and working in this country had double the chances of joining a job for which they seemed overqualified. This is in comparison with those working with a Canadian degree.
Due to this consistent record of overqualified workers, the modifications associated with Canada’s credential system will play a crucial role in reducing labor shortages. Also, these changes will help in benefiting more from the skilled international talent already prevalent in the country.
Presently, the project emphasizes healthcare professionals. However, the federal government is also expected to explore more initiatives for other industries. This is due to increasing employers complaining about the skills gap.
