A new pilot project has been launched by the federal and Alberta governments to fast-track the entry of internationally-trained nurses into Alberta's health care system.

A federal contribution of $536,000 to Alberta Health and Wellness will fund the testing of an off-shore assessment program for nurses intending toimmigrate to Canada. Traditionally, foreign-trained nurses who wanted to work in Alberta had to take assessment exams at Mount Royal College in Calgary.With this new off-shore pilot project, 36 nurses will be able to complete the assessment process overseas, thereby reducing the amount of time betweenlanding in Canada and entering the work force. During this process, their language, knowledge, and competencies will be measured against CanadianRegistered Nurse competency standards and the nurses will be informed if they require any additional learning or training before immigrating and startingto work in Alberta.

"Projects such as this will help alleviate Canada's nursing shortage, which in turn will lead to improved care and a reduction in wait times. This is aground-breaking initiative in which the Government of Canada is proud to take part," stated Minister of Health, Tony Clement, when the pilot project wasannounced. Citizenship and Immigration Minister Diane Finley added, "Canada has a skill shortage and skilled immigrants want to contribute to our countryby working in the fields for which they've been trained. We want to help them do that and one of the best ways is to help them get their credentials assessed before they enter the country so that when they arrive, they can find work faster in their fields."

The Alberta Health and Wellness project is one of over 40 initiatives funded by the federal government's Internationally Educated Health ProfessionalsInitiative. The pilot project, which will run until March 31, 2008, will allow nurses in London, Dublin, Dubai, Qatar, and elsewhere in the United ArabEmirates to undergo a Substantial Equivalent competency Assessment before immigration to Canada.