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Metropolis Pre-Conference
Session
Sponsored by the
Foreign Credentials Referral Office:
OVERSEAS AND PAN-CANADIAN INITIATIVES TO ASSIST IN FOREIGN CREDENTIAL RECOGNITION AND LABOUR MARKET INTEGRATION OF FOREIGN-TRAINED WORKERS
12TH National Metropolis
Conference, Sheraton Centre, Montréal, Québec
March 18, 2010
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
As part of the 12th National Metropolis Conference, being held in Montréal,
Québec, March 19-21, 2010, Citizenship and Immigration Canada’s Foreign
Credentials Referral Office (FCRO), along with the Metropolis Project,
will be hosting a Pre-Conference Session on foreign credential recognition
(FCR) at the Sheraton Centre on March 18, 2010. This one day event will
focus on overseas and pan-Canadian initiatives that aim to assist foreign-trained
workers in navigating the myriad of credential recognition processes in
Canada and supporting them in finding employment that best utilizes their
skills and credentials. The event will combine keynote addresses, interactive
demonstrations of FCR tools and services, and plenary sessions pertaining
to three themes: pan-Canadian approaches to FCR; information, tools and
licensure processes beginning overseas; and outreach to foreign-trained
workers and employers. The event will bring together government officials,
Fairness Commission representatives, regulatory bodies, and FCR academics
and policy makers to share multidisciplinary perspectives on FCR initiatives.
Plenary Session #1 - Pan-Canadian approaches to FCR
One of the greatest economic integration challenges faced by immigrants
are barriers to the transferability of foreign credentials needed to gain
access to regulated occupations and employment. To reduce these barriers
and to complement initiatives underway such as Fair Access legislation
in some provinces, governments are working towards a pan-Canadian, principles-based
approach to improving FCR processes. Implementation will be piloted in
eight target occupations that will work with governments to put in place
measures to increase the fairness, transparency, timeliness and consistency
of FCR processes by December 2010. These measures will not only streamline
and improve the processes of regulatory bodies, but provide newcomers
and employers with greater assurance that FCR in Canada has integrity.
This panel will explore the substantive changes that key stakeholders
will experience to their work as a result of adhering to pan-Canadian
principles for FCR processes. Representatives from Fairness Commissions,
regulatory bodies and governments will share their perspectives on the
expected implications and alignment with initiatives already underway.
Plenary Session #2 - FCR information, tools and licensure processes that
begin overseas
Providing prospective immigrants with comprehensive information on foreign
credential assessment and recognition processes, labour market trends
and employment opportunities as early as possible in the immigration process
can help ensure that potential newcomers are making informed decisions
and have realistic expectations prior to immigrating. Offering overseas
services including pre-assessment of foreign credentials and early identification
of training pathways can further facilitate more efficient labour market
integration for newcomers, at levels commensurate with their skills and
experience.
This panel discussion will explore Canada’s evolving pre-immigration platform
of services. The current overseas offerings of our federal and provincial
governments, regulatory bodies and employers with respect to FCR information
and credential assessment tools and services will be presented by panellists
with a keen understanding of the fundamentals of both the policy implications
and the realities of implementation.
Plenary session #3 – Outreach to foreign-trained workers and employers:
partnerships and strategies
Enhancing overseas information and facilitating components of the assessment
and recognition process prior to arrival are only part of the solution
to better integrate internationally-trained workers into the Canadian
labour force. Equally important is the involvement and commitment of Canadian
employers and human resource professionals in facilitating the hiring
of internationally trained immigrants as a business priority in the global
competition for skilled labour.
This panel discussion will focus on the benefits of innovative partnerships
between employers, immigrant serving organizations, assessment agencies
and employers, and elements of successful immigrant hiring and retention
strategies.
Registration fee – Pre-conference session participants
who are not attending the 12th National Metropolis Conference, a registration
fee of $75 will apply.
Who should attend – Representatives of government, academic
institutions, regulatory bodies, assessment agencies, immigrant serving
organizations, employers, and other stakeholders with a keen interest
in foreign credential recognition.
Agenda
| Schedule | Description |
| 8:15 - 9:15 | REGISTRATION |
| 9:15 – 9:45 | WELCOMING REMARKS – Corinne Prince-St-Amand, Executive Director, Foreign Credentials Referral Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
| 9:45 - 10:45 | PAN-CANADIAN FRAMEWORK FOR THE ASSESSMENT AND RECOGNITION OF FOREIGN QUALIFICATIONS – Implementation and Benefits to Stakeholders
|
| 10:45 - 11:00 | BREAK |
| 11:00 - 11:45 | FQR FRAMEWORK, continued |
| 12:00 - 13:00 | LUNCH |
| 13:00 - 13:30 | Keynote Address by Minister Jason Kenney, Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
| 13:30 - 14:00 | PAN-CANADIAN INFORMATION CENTRE Overview and new developments – Allain Lauzon, Senior Analyst, Foreign Credentials Referral Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
| 14:00 - 15:15 | FOREIGN CREDENTIAL ASSESSMENT AND RECOGNITION - INFORMATION, TOOLS AND PROCESSES THAT BEGIN OVERSEAS
|
| 15:15 - 15:30 | BREAK |
| 15:30 -16:30 | OUTREACH TO FOREIGN-TRAINED WORKERS AND EMPLOYERS – Practices and Challenges
|
| 16:30 - 16:45 | CLOSING REMARKS – Corinne Prince-St-Amand, Executive Director, Foreign Credentials Referral Office, Citizenship and Immigration Canada |
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