The Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Canada, Diane Finley, recently announced that 75 Service Canada centres in Ontario now offer in-person foreign credential information and referral services to newcomers. As part of the Foreign Credential Referral Office (FCRO), launched in May 2007, the services provided will facilitate the assessment and recognition of skills obtained outside of Canada.

The services benefit both internationally-trained job-seekers as well as Canadian employers, who are dependent on immigration for labour force growth. "Helping immigrants get their credentials assessed and recognized more quickly will go a long way towards getting them working in their chosen field, help their chances for success and help us build a stronger Canada," explains Minister Finley.

In addition to in-person services, the FCRO also offers information and referral services over the phone and via the internet. The FCRO works closely with Human Resources and Social Development Canada’s Foreign Credential Recognition Program to ease the integration of foreign-trained individuals into the Canadian work force.