Across Canada, Canadians are facing labour shortages and the demand for qualified workers continues to grow. Long wait times and difficulty finding a family
physician are far too common for people across the country. That is why the Government of Canada is investing to speed up accreditation for internationally
educated health professionals (IEHP).
Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault, announced up to $86 million in funding to 15 organizations
across Canada to increase capacity for foreign credential recognition of approximately 6600 internationally educated health professionals. This investment will
support highly educated and skilled immigrants receive proper recognition for their international credentials. Through this investment, for example, internationally
trained midwives will be able to take their exams virtually, even before they arrive in Canada.
The 15 funded projects stretching across the country will:
Reduce barriers to foreign credential recognition for IEHPs by improving recognition processes, simplifying steps in credential recognition and offering increased
access to practice in the field.
Provide IEHPs with relevant Canadian work experience in their intended fields, while incorporating wrap-around supports such as childcare and transportation
costs, as well as mentoring and coaching.
Facilitate labour mobility between jurisdictions in Canada for health professionals and IEHPs to reduce the systemic and administrative barriers for health
professionals who wish to work in another jurisdiction in Canada.
Today’s announcement builds on the commitment made by the Government of Canada with provinces and territories during the October 2023 Health Ministers’
Meeting, to take concrete actions to address challenges facing Canada's health workforce including reducing the time it takes for IEHPs to join the health workforce.
Funding will go directly to key occupations like nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, laboratory technicians and respiratory therapy.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program works with provinces, territories, regulatory bodies and other organizations by funding projects to support faster and
more efficient credential recognition systems with the goal of growing Canada’s economy, creating quality employment and promoting a more sustainable health
workforce.
Quotes
“Honouring the professional credentials of newcomers is a compassionate and effective component of expanding Canada’s workforce. The Foreign Credentials
Recognition speeds up the accreditation for 6600 people, and is not only the right thing to do, but one of the best ways we can fill labour gaps, strengthen our
healthcare system and grow our economy
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, Randy Boissonnault– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official
Languages, Randy Boissonnault
“Health care workers deliver the care that Canadians need. By bringing in new workers and retaining those who are already there, we can help relieve the labour
challenges in our health care system. This federal funding supports our government’s work with provinces, territories, and stakeholders to have more health care
workers enter Canada’s workforce and to streamline that process. Together, this will improve our health care system so Canadians can get the care they need and
deserve.”
– Minister of Health, Mark Holland
“The Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry is thrilled to receive this support from the federal government to fund the development and testing of a new
program to speed the qualification and licensing of dentists trained elsewhere in the world so they can practice in Canada. With the government’s recent introduction
of the new Canadian Dental Care Plan, and its policy of increasing immigration into Canada, there are plans to both help Canada’s poorest and most marginalized
people gain access to dental care, and to integrate internationally trained dentists into Canada’s health care workforce. Canada’s dental schools are excited to be
taking the lead in developing new means to enable these international dentists to practice and so help fulfill the dental care needs of all Canadians, including new
Canadians”.
-Jim Lai, President of Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry
