Fourth International Metropolis Conference

Washington, DC

Michelle Goldberg
Ontario Government
Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities
Access to Professions and Trades Unit

Promote

fair and merit-based registration

and employment practices

for foreign-trained professionals and trades people to enhance their social and economic contribution to the province

Key Message

Set high standards of competency and ethics for practitioners to protect public safety and welfare

Assess skills fairly, consistently and on merit so ALL qualified practitioners, including foreign-trained, have equal opportunity to get licensed/certified to offer services in the marketplace

Cuts social and economic cost of unemployment, under employment, social assistance

Reduces unnecessary retraining and education

Increases foreign-trained individual’s contribution to the economy and ensures Ontario benefits from immigrant’s skills and expertise

Ontario receives approximately 100,000 immigrants each year, from over 180 different countries.

50% of all immigrants to Canada come to Ontario.

On average, 61% of immigrants 18-64 are highly educated and trained

Of these, 25% arrive in regulated professions and trades.

Chartered Accountants

Dieticians

Dental Technologists

Massage Therapists

Medical Radiation Therapists

Occupational Therapists

Nurses

Pharmacists

Physiotherapists

Teachers

Veterinarians

APT staff co-chairs, with Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC)

Works toward greater co-ordination of federal and provincial initiatives

The Working Group organized the National Conference on Access to Professions and Trades

Federal-Provincial Working Group on APT Conference

An opportunity to share information and best practices, and discuss solutions to complex APT issues

Over 700 participants including government, regulatory bodies, settlement agencies and educational institutions

Provides information to potential and recent immigrants to Ontario

Contains information on APT initiatives

Occupational Fact Sheets can be downloaded

Academic Credential Assessment Services only assess academic diplomas and degrees as granted by high schools, colleges, universities and private trainers

Academic credential assessment services do not assess other professional qualifications that may be required to practice a profession or trade

Purpose:

to evaluate the schooling an individual has from another country and compare it to Ontario’s standards

Current Status:

Service to be operational first quarter 2000

The assessment and recognition of skills and knowledge obtained through formal or informal learning

"What a person knows and can do"

A study and report commissioned by APT and the Council of Ontario Universities

Examined the use of PLAR in Ontario universities’ professional programs, particularly applied to foreign-trained individuals

Results indicate PLAR is not widely used

Report and recommendations are available

"The Facts Are In" Research Project

Report will provide quantitative data to support anecdotal information

First research project to research APT issues through the entire immigration process

Preliminary results indicate that many highly skilled immigrants are employed, but not always working in their former occupations

Creative partnership among Federal and Provincial governments, regulatory bodies and a community agency.

Training and self-assessment resources that can be used by other organizations.

Additional projects using STIC resources are underway.

STEPs to Employment Project

Ontario is committed to working in partnership to ensure that every qualified individual who comes to Ontario will have an equal opportunity to enter and practise the occupations in which they have been educated and trained, and thereby contribute to the overall growth and health of the provincial economy and society.

		Updated February 09, 2004