Government of Canada helps internationally trained dental technologists get their credentials recognized in Canada
SCARBOROUGH, ON, Nov. 24, 2017 /CNW/ - Helping internationally trained newcomers join the Canadian workforce faster will help grow the economy and strengthen the middle class.
That's why today, the Honourable John McKay, Member of Parliament for Scarborough–Guildwood, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced a new project that will help internationally trained dental technologists get their international credentials recognized faster.
The Government of Canada is investing close to $573,000 over the next two years in the Access to Dental Technology project. With this investment, the College of Dental Technologists of Ontario, in collaboration with the Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators, will launch a website to provide centralized information on the dental technologist profession, licensure and integration. Newcomers will also benefit from pre-arrival self-assessment tools so they can prepare for registration, and from processes and tools that support the assessment for dental technologists trained both in Canada and internationally.
By funding this project, the Government is helping reduce barriers to employment for newcomers and helping them find jobs in the Canadian workforce faster.
Quotes
"Helping newcomers get their foreign credentials recognized faster will allow them to join the Canadian work force faster, which is critical to growing our economy and strengthening the middle class. That's why we are supporting newcomers to get credentials recognized so they can kick-start their careers in Canada."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour
"I am proud that our government is helping to reduce barriers and supporting newcomers as they put their skills to work across communities in Canada."
– The Honourable John McKay, Member of Parliament for Scarborough–Guildwood
"The College of Dental Technologists of Ontario, in collaboration with the Canadian Alliance of Dental Technology Regulators, is honored to receive the support from the Government of Canada for this initiative, which will increase awareness of the registered dental technologist profession and help to reduce barriers for internationally educated professionals. Access to quality oral health care is increasingly important, as Canada's population ages."
– Judy Rigby, Registrar and CEO, College of Dental Technologists of Ontario
Quick Facts
- There are fewer than 2,000 registered dental technologists in Canada and the profession is facing a critical shortage.
- Budget 2017 announced the Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers to help newcomers get their credentials recognized more quickly so they can find jobs that suit their skills and experience.
- The Strategy has three components: pre-arrival services, a loans program and a pilot to help newcomers obtain Canadian work experience.
Associated Links
Foreign Credential Recognition Program
Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Program Call for Proposals
Credential assessment in Canada
Pre-arrival services
Budget 2017
Backgrounder
Foreign Credential Recognition Program
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program aims to improve the integration of internationally trained newcomers into the workforce. The Program provides funding to and works with the provinces and territories and other stakeholders—including regulatory bodies, post‑secondary institutions sectoral stakeholders and employers—to implement projects that facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired in other countries.
Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers
The Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers, which was announced in Budget 2017, will have three components to help newcomers enter the job market. These are:
- improved pre-arrival supports;
- a loan program to assist newcomers with costs of getting their foreign credentials recognized; and
- assistance to acquire first Canadian work experience in their profession or in a field related to their profession.
The Strategy will also test innovative approaches to help skilled newcomers gain critical first Canadian work experience in their professions. Pilot projects to assess the value of foreign work experience will be implemented to learn the best ways to facilitate the critical first Canadian work experience for skilled newcomers. This could include testing initiatives such as paid internships, mentorships, and job matching, and looking at ways to help overcome employers' reluctance to hire newcomers as a result of difficulties in assessing the value of their foreign work experience.
A Call for Proposals for the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Program to help newcomers with loans was launched on September 29 and the closing date is November 24. Newcomers can use the loan to cover costs associated with getting their credentials recognized.
A previous loan pilot, which ended in 2015, aimed to test models of community-based partnerships. Through this pilot, nine immigrant service and support agencies across Canada were funded to develop and deliver a loan program for internationally trained workers.
SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada
For further information: For media enquiries: Matt Pascuzzo, Press Secretary, Office of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, P.C., M.P., Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, [email protected], 819-654-4183; Media Relations Office, Employment and Social Development Canada, 819-994-5559, [email protected]
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