Program puts newcomers back in workforce
Ottawa makes $700,000 available over eight years
When Janet Madume came to Canada 14 years ago it took her two years to get back into the field in which she was trained.
“There were no resources in Welland then,” Madume, executive director of Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre, said Wednesday morning during the announcement of a program to help internationally trained newcomers join the Canadian workforce.
Madume was joined by Lori Webster, co-ordinator for the new Niagara Foreign Credential Recognition Loans program, Niagara Centre MP Vance Badawey and others in downtown Welland.
The program will see $700,000 invested over the next eight years to increase resources for internationally trained newcomers to get their credentials recognized in Canada and improve access to low-interest loans to support the process.
It’s open to all Niagara residents who are Canadian citizens, permanent residents or persons granted refugee status and legally permitted to work in the country.
“It’s imperative for resources to be available for newcomers who don’t have a history in Canada. It will support them and get them back into their field,” said Madume, who was trained as an accountant and volunteered with Canada Revenue Agency after she immigrated.
Webster said the program will help people — such as doctors, pharmacists or any regulated
profession — get their credentials recognized by Canadian professional colleges and be accepted into those same institutions.
“These people are passionate about using their skills and we want them to be able to do the same professions here, so their skills are not wasted,” Webster said.
She said she’ll help refer people who need their international credentials assessed or figure out whether they need to write licences or take an additional course.
Both she and Madume said for those who need financial assistance with courses or licences, Merdian Credit Union is backing the heritage council.
Webster said she’s had 30 clients come to her and the program only started in September.
“They are really excited,” she said.
Badawey and Madume said 44 people are expected to receive both loans and career counselling, and half will be women as part of an effort to increase their access to a loan for credential recognition. In total, the program should help up to 300 internationally trained newcomers in the Welland area.
“This program takes full advantage of the talent that comes to Canada … it adds diversity. It gives people a chance to do what they did in their homeland and will benefit us socially and economically,” said Badawey.
Nathaniel.Johnson @niagaradailies.com 905-684-7251 | @DaveJTheTrib