A struggle that many new immigrants face in Canada is getting their international credentials recognized as they try to find work. The Government of Canada has announced that 960 internationally trained newcomers in the Hamilton and Toronto regions will receive financial assistance and employment coaching to help them enter the Canadian workforce.
“Helping newcomers get their foreign credentials recognized will allow them to kick-start their careers in Canada … Through projects like these, we are giving more newcomers a fair chance at success in the Canadian workforce.” – Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
The project has concentrated its effort on making sure aid comes to newcomer women, promising that half of the 140 recipients of both loans and career counselling will be women.
“I am proud that our Government is helping to reduce barriers and support newcomers—especially a number of women–as they put their skills to work in communities across Canada.” – Ahmed Hussen, Immigration Minister
Over $1.577 million is being invested in the FCRP (Foreign Credential Recognition Program) over the course of the next eight years. The money, received by charity ACCESS Community Capital Fund, will be used to increase resources for internationally trained immigrants and improve access to low-interest loans to support the foreign credential process.
The FCR Program is a government program that helps Canadian newcomers get their international credentials recognized. FCRP annually invests $21 million to provinces and territories, regulatory bodies and other stakeholders to fund two main activities. The first, which has been in motion since 2003, works to improve the credential recognition systems. The second, started in 2017, branches out to offer direct employment supports to skilled newcomers, through loans and offers of Canadian work experience.