Call for proposals for Foreign Credential Recognition loans launched today

Eligible organizations are encouraged to apply for funding to help newcomers get their foreign credentials recognized

GATINEAU, QC, Sept. 29, 2017 /CNW/ - The Government of Canada is helping newcomers by providing tools to help them work through the costly and complex foreign credential recognition processes that limit their employment opportunities.

The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship, on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, today announced the launch of a call for proposals for the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Program.

As part of the Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers announced in Budget 2017, the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Program offers loans to newcomers to help cover the cost of getting their foreign credentials recognized. These costs could include expenses related to licensing exams, training, travel and skills upgrading. The Program will also provide newcomers with support services such as information and assistance with navigating processes for credential recognition, career advice and financial literacy workshops.

The Program builds upon the success of the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Project that demonstrated newcomers were able to get their foreign credentials recognized, enter the job market and earn wages commensurate with their skills more quickly.

Quotes

"Helping newcomers get their foreign credentials recognized faster will allow them to join the Canadian work force faster. This new investment will allow them to put their skills to good use and help grow the economy. This will strengthen our middle class and help those working hard to join it."
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

"Attracting the best and brightest from around the world benefits all Canadians, and is one of the Government of Canada's top priorities. I am proud that our government is supporting newcomers and helping them overcome financial barriers to getting their foreign credentials recognized so they can put their knowledge and skills to work sooner."
– The Honourable Ahmed Hussen, Minister of Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship

Quick Facts

The Call for Proposals will be open for eight weeks and the closing date is November 24, 2017.

Quebec organizations are not eligible to apply for funding. Discussions with the Government of Quebec are underway to develop an approach that takes into account the unique features of Quebec's newcomer support system.

As part of the Foreign Credential Recognition Loans Pilot Project, over 1,800 micro-loans were approved, with an average loan value of $7,000.

Associated Links

Call for Proposals 
Budget 2017 
Foreign Credential Recognition Program 
Credential assessment in Canada 
Pre-arrival services

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Backgrounder

Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers

The Targeted Employment Strategy for Newcomers will have three components to help newcomers enter the job market. These are:

• improved pre-arrival supports;
• a loan program to assist newcomers with costs of getting their foreign credentials recognized, and
• assistance to acquire first Canadian work experience in their profession or in a field related to their profession

The Strategy will also test innovative approaches to help skilled newcomers gain critical first Canadian work experience in their professions. Pilot projects to assess the value of foreign work experience will be implemented in order to learn the best ways to facilitate the critical first Canadian work experience for skilled newcomers. This could include testing initiatives such as paid internships, mentorships, job matching and looking at ways to help overcome employers' reluctance to hire newcomers as a result of difficulties in assessing the value of their foreign work experience.   

The previous loan pilot, which ended in 2015, aimed to test models of community-based partnerships. Through this pilot, nine immigrant service and support agencies across Canada were funded to develop and deliver a loan program for internationally trained workers.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada