Ontario to introduce new Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act

the CanadaVisa Team - 20 July, 2015

The proposed bill, if passed, will break down barriers that will ensure foreign-trained professionals have a fair chance at finding work in their field of expertise in Canada.

The Bill called "The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act 2006", would apply to 34 regulated Canadian professions in Ontario, including physicians, accountants, lawyers, teachers, engineers, and social workers. "Ontario is attracting some of the best educated, and highly skilled people from around the world," said Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle upon announcing the new initiative. "The proposed legislation is about making sure that those with great global experience have a fair shot at working in their profession."

The projected law is expected to be introduced before the end of the current legislative session, and is part of a sweeping plan for newcomer success. "Newcomers are Ontario's brain gain," said Colle. "When they have the opportunity to put their talents to work and succeed, Ontario succeeds."

Another component of the proposal is a new Ontario government internship program for internationally trained individuals. As much as 70 six-month internship assignments will be created in ministries and Crown agencies in the first year of the program. Through this initiative, participants will be permitted to apply their skills and experience to gain so called "Canadian work experience" that can be applied successfully to non-governmental organizations and businesses.

"We are leading by example and are the first province in Canada with a program like this," Ontario Minister of Government Services, Gerry Phillips explains. "We are challenging Ontario businesses to tap into the talents of skilled newcomers. They have the skills businesses need to succeed." Ontario is working hard to bring Internationally-skilled workers into the Province's regulated professions.

Including:

-Investing over C$34 million since 2003, in 60 bridge training projects help newcomers work in 100 trades and professions.

-Negotiating the first ever Canada-Ontario immigration agreement, which quadruples federal funding for language training and settlement programs to C$920 million over five years.

-Doubling the number of training and assessments positions for internationally trained medical graduates: in the past two years more doctors' certificates have been issued to international medical graduates than to Ontario graduates.