Access to Professions and Trades in Ontario

Shamira Madhany Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Each Year Ontario Receives Over 100,000 Immigrants

60% of all immigrants to Canada come to Ontario 74% of immigrants ages 18-64 are highly educated and trained Of these, 23% testify to being qualified in a regulated profession or trade Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Barriers to Access to Professions and Trades for Internationally Trained and Educated Individuals

Barriers include lack of:  Information  Tools to assess academic credentials and prior experience  Language testing and occupational specific language training  Supplementary bridging education  Canadian work experience Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Key Players in Access to Professions and Trades (APT)

Federal Government

Promotion Recruitment Selection

Ontario Government

Education Training Licensure

APT Unit Occupational Regulatory Bodies

Legal authority to set standards and entry to practice requirements

(TCU)

Educational requirements Experience Language Proficiency Qualifying Exam Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Canadian Internship 9

Role of Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Access to Professions & Trades Unit

Facilitate the development of sustainable infrastructure that brings stakeholders together to develop information materials, assessment methods, tools and supports to remove barriers to labour market access Key partners are occupational regulatory bodies, employers, educational institutions, community agencies, other ministries and levels of government and World Education Services (WES), an academic credential assessment service funded in part by MTCU Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Collaboration With Partners

14 bridge training projects in strategic skill sectors develop ways for employers, regulatory bodies and educational institutions to:  Assess existing skills and competencies and provide training and Canadian workplace experience  Help qualified individuals move quickly into the labour market without duplicating what they have already learned elsewhere  Develop models that can be adapted by other organizations and sectors Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Tools and Information

Occupational fact sheets

—provide comprehensive, up-to-date information for new and prospective immigrants about entry-to-practice requirements and labour market conditions in different regulated professions and trades

Web site

—provides information on APT issues and links to other relevant sites

Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR)

tools and processes

Sector-specific Training Information and Counselling (STIC)

—pilot delivered though Job Connect agencies to provide customized employment services to internationally trained individuals Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Strategic Engagement

Support for leadership initiatives by regulator and employer groups Projects encourage other regulators and employers to develop their own access initiatives and implement changes in their policies, programs and service delivery Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Working with Occupational Regulatory Bodies

Committee of regulators to develop a set of practical tools and materials that support and encourage regulators to improve access for internationally educated and trained individuals Products:   Compendium of promising programs, practices and projects initiated by regulators to facilitate APT Resource Guide providing principles and strategies for promoting APT  Self-assessment Guide/Checklist for examining current practices, assessing impact of access initiatives and sharing results with others Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Working with Employers

Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) has been contracted by the Ministry to develop a guide on the business case for hiring internationally educated and trained immigrants Product:  CME Tool Kit will assist businesses to understand the benefits of recognizing and hiring internationally educated and trained immigrants Initiatives that involve other employers are being developed Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003

Presentation Follow-up

Please pick up a handout from this presentation Presentation materials will be posted on CLEAR’s website Contact: Access to Professions and Trades Unit [email protected]

Tel: 416-326-6260 www.equalopportunity.on.ca

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003