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Summit to tackle credentials issue |
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Canada is moving to address the issue of recognition of foreign
credentials - a long-standing problem that has vexed both immigrants
and employers.
Human Resources Minister Belinda Stronach said a summit will look into
the issue as it explores ways of meeting a skills shortage in the
workplace.
"I think it's a priority that we have in the department and we're
looking at ways we can speed it up," Stronach said after a speech to
business and labour leaders on workplace skills.
The meeting would bring together government, labour and professional groups, she said.
Stronach said the summit will also address better ways to get information to prospective immigrants before they reach Canada.
"Making sure that people who want to come to this country have better
information as to what their actually getting into," Stronach said.
She said the summit would look at ways of putting people in contact
with professional organizations in Canada before they immigrate so they
can set the wheels in motion to pre-clear the paperwork to get
recognition of their skills.
Some labour experts predict workforce growth will rely entirely on
immigrant labour in five years and failure to quickly recognize
professional credentials will affect the economy. |