Categories: Need to know

The end of PhD-educated cab drivers?

Federal government proposes new measure to lower professional accreditation barriers

by macleans.ca on Monday, November 30, 2009 5:26pm - 10 Comments

We’ve all heard stories of foreign-trained doctors working as cab drivers and fresh-off-the-boat engineers slugging away at low-skill cashier jobs. That, said the federal government on Monday, has got to change. Officials have pledged that, starting in December 2010, foreign-trained professionals who apply for certification will be told within a year whether or not they are eligible to work in Canada. Architects, engineers, accountants, pharmacists and nurses who were trained abroad are all expected to fall under the new scheme. “It used to be that it could take two years after someone got here just to find out how to get their credentials evaluated,” says Minister of Human Resources Diane Finley. “We recognize how important it is for newcomers to put their training and their knowledge to work here in Canada… It’s vital for them, and it’s vital for their families and it’s vital for our economy.” According to Statistics Canada, 42 per cent of immigrants aged 25 to 54 are overqualified—that is, they have a higher education level than their job requires. For born-and-raised Canadians, that number is 28 per cent.

CBC News

Tags: Canada

Candace

Steve, park your apprehensions at the door, of COURSE they have to write the same examinations as those written by resident applicants. Here's a newsflash for you, though – when it comes to engineering and architecture, the laws of physics don't change from country to country. It shouldn't take 2 years for someone to be told they have to re-take a year or so of university and sit 3-5 exams to qualify. However, untill all the provinces can agree on qualifications and exams for doctors, lawyers, nurses, engineers etc they won't, because it will depend on the province they are moving to.

If they can fix this, generations of Canadians (foreign-trained or trained here) will thank them.
http://intensedebate.com/people/novagardener novagardener

This is one of the very few things that I can applaud this government for tackling.
fuddle duddle

aren't a lot of professions accredited by associations in the provinces
YSP

I think any foot-dragging on this issue is attributable to the difficulties politicians will have finding a taxi in Ottawa if 90% of the drivers move on to their real occupations. Also, downtown Ottawa fast food will be decimated.
hosertohoosier

I support efforts to make accreditation less complicated, but my takeaway from all this is a bit different: "According to Statistics Canada, 42 per cent of immigrants aged 25 to 54 are overqualified—that is, they have a higher education level than their job requires. For born-and-raised Canadians, that number is 28 per cent."

So 28% of Canadians are more educated than they need to be. This is a serious inefficiency in our economy, and one likely to grow. The Canadian labor force is about 18 million in size, so we are talking about 5 million people that went to college or university and didn't get anything out of it career-wise. The opportunity cost of not working while in university is 4-6 years of seniority (depending on how long you take to finish), 4-6 years worth of wages (without a degree we are probably talking about jobs that pay $20,000/year), and the cost of tuition (which is about $15000/year – if you include taxpayer-funded subsidies). So I don't think it would be unreasonable to ballpark $700,000,000,000 as the cost to the economy of our mentality that higher education is for everybody.
Maureen

There is no doubt that there is a lot of barriers for foreign trained professionals to practice in Canada but we also need to realize that a lot of work has been done in this area. Most provinces have established internet portals that provide immigrants with information on what they can do BEFORE they get to Canada to make sure their credentials are recognized – one of the most important is to contact the relevant provincial licensing body, who in most cases can tell them in very short order if training will be accepted. These provincial licensing bodies have a lot of experience in which schools/educational institutions graduate qualified individuals who will get licensed. Secondly, English language skills is a big factor in not being able to practice in Canada – for most of them they need technical English skills, not just conversational skills. BUT if their basic training is not equivalent to Canadian trained professionals, they will not be licensed.

I'm also a little baffled by the professions – is Canada short of dentists and architects? Even if these individuals are licensed they may find that there is little or no need for their skills – that is a reality of the economy.
Peter P

I've seen this a few times when i was over in the states

Pete

Motorola Atrix
http://intensedebate.com/people/SteveWBCanada SteveWBCanada

I'm very apprehensive about "professionals" trained in third world educational facilities. At a minimum, they must pass the same examinations written by Canadian applicants.
http://www.thefluecase.com rick

Foreigners have higher knowledge + they speak 2 languages and may serve their emigrant people it's a good idea.
This is not only issue many jobs have the same problems. Canada is wasting talents , people snap off and they go mental.
The truth is here http://www.notcanada.com
hunter

racist! prejudice!! overcome