Government seeks faster approval of credentials
Minister says `red tape' making it hard for newcomers to work in their fields
The government and the NDP Opposition both want an easier path for credentialed workers to ply their trades in their desired fields.
Jeremy Harrison, minister of immigration and career training, said the “red tape” that inhibits people from abroad or within Canada from practising their professions in Saskatchewan will be targeted by the Labour Mobility and Fair Registration Practices Act, introduced Wednesday.
“The biggest thing we hear often from newcomer communities, particularly for new Canadians, for immigrants to this country is that the credentials and skills that they had earned outside of Canada ... they've had a very difficult time having those credentials recognized,” said Harrison.
The bill will allow for those credentials to be recognized in Saskatchewan in an expedited fashion and will apply to all regulated professions like IT, nursing and trades.
Aleana Young, Opposition critic for economy and jobs and immigration, said this has been a long-standing issue in the province.
Young said most people in Saskatchewan are familiar with a new Canadian who is unable to work in their field of expertise, despite having the credentials to do so.
“Saskatchewan has long been the only province without a process to expedite this,” she said.
Harrison said the government will need to work with regulatory agencies to ensure that the accrediting of new Canadians and those with certifications from outside Saskatchewan will be sufficient for provincial standards.
As for sectors specifically being targeted, Harrison mentioned health care, specifically continuing care aides and nurses, construction and other trades but mentioned “labour challenges” writ large as being the motivation for bringing forward the bill at this time.
“We have some really acute shortages right now, which are only going to become more significant over time,” said Harrison.
He added that if there are gaps that make someone ineligible to work in a regulated industry, there will be provisions to upgrade a person to the point where they are suited to work in the province, as well as language training.
Young said she had not had long to sit with and read the bill on Wednesday, but said “anything that can help our struggling labour market and attract more people to deal with Saskatchewan's shrinking population is a positive.”
Saskatchewan has long been the only province without a process to expedite this.