Foreign skills roadblocks target of proposed act
Engineers, architects, nurses and dentists educated abroad are among the targets for a new government office that would work with professional licensing bodies to simplify and accelerate foreign credential recognition.
The office is part of the Fair Registration Practices Act, tabled Wednesday by Labour and Immigration Minister Jason Copping.
If passed, the act would give the minister the power to name and shame regulatory and professional bodies that drag their heels or put roadblocks in the path of newcomers looking to be licensed in Alberta.
The minister would be able to direct a professional body to make changes to ensure fair, impartial and timely application licensing decisions. Those that don’t could end up in court facing a $50,000 fine.
But the office won’t provide assistance or advice to individuals. So if you’re an engineer awaiting a decision on being able to work in your profession in Alberta, you’re out of luck.
Copping said he wants the office to work hand-in-hand with immigration organizations and professional bodies, but there is no requirement under the act for them to tell applicants about the fair registration practices office.
The act sets out a six-month goal for professional bodies to give people an interim decision about their application, though there’s no time limit on final decisions.
Along with the new government office, the act would establish a fair practices code.
The code, which follows in the footsteps of similar legislation in Ontario, Manitoba and Nova Scotia, would outline the requirements of registration practices for newcomers.
That includes internal review processes, documentation on qualifications and practices and access to records.
Government officials said the act would strike a balance between recognizing foreign credentials and ensuring public safety.
However, it would also allow regulatory bodies to accept alternative information like proof of an applicant’s employment history rather than a degree or professional qualification from their home country.
Wednesday’s legislation is part of a $2.5-million cluster of immigration-based changes promised by the United Conservatives during the election.
Under its so-called Fairness for Newcomers Action Plan, the party also promised a premier’s summit on fairness for newcomers; the creation of a newcomers mentor program within the Government of Alberta; expanding access to low-interest loans to immigrant professionals; and working with the federal government to encourage Alberta newcomers to apply for credential recognition and educational assessments before they arrive in Canada.
Premier Jason Kenney said Wednesday he has met too many newcomers who felt cheated by the immigration system.
Too often, immigrants come to Alberta and get stuck in survival jobs while their skills atrophy, he said, even while the province needs more people with those very skill sets.
“This is a huge economic loss for us, it’s a huge opportunity cost in terms of our prosperity,” Kenney said.
“I also believe this phenomenon of ... doctors driving cabs is also immoral. It’s unethical for us as a prosperous, developed society to invite people with the highest qualification and experience to come here and face that frustration.”
Kenney also fired a warning shot to professional bodies abusing their authority by creating hurdles, saying they could lose their designation if they don’t comply with the proposed law.