Funded projects in development

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office funds projects run by partners including regulatory bodies, various levels of government, immigrant-serving organizations, sector councils, and assessment agencies.

These projects help provide internationally trained individuals with services and tools to help them begin the credential assessment and recognition process overseas, where possible, and in Canada to help them integrate quickly into Canadian employment that fits their skills and experience.

Currently, funded projects include partnerships with the following organizations:

Association of Canadian Community Colleges

The Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP), designed and managed by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC), began offering pre-departure orientation services for internationally educated immigrants in the Philippines, China and India on a pilot basis in early 2007. Almost 10,000 individuals participated in the pilot, and the evaluation indicates that a significant proportion achieved improved employment outcomes which they attributed to the impact of CIIP. Between 2010 and 2013, ACCC will receive additional funding of $15 million from the Foreign Credentials Referral Office to further develop these services and expand client reach.

CIIP orientation workshops are offered free of charge to provide information on Canada’s various credential assessment and professional licensing processes to immigrants in the Federal Skilled Worker and Provincial Nominee immigration streams who will be entering the Canadian labour market. The information helps prospective immigrants make informed choices and take preparatory steps before coming to Canada so that they can put their training and knowledge to work here soon after they arrive.

The United Kingdom regional office was established in November 2010 and began operations in January 2011. Located in London, the office delivers CIIP services to eligible clients applying for immigration from the countries served by the Canadian High Commission in London.

The ACCC is expanding the Sustainable Partnerships for Overseas Services project. The objective of this project is to develop a coordinated and efficient model to foster more effective partnerships among college partners and key immigrant integration stakeholders in the settlement sector in Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta by providing online advice and referrals for immigrants planning to settle in these provinces.

Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists

The Canadian Council of Technicians and Technologists (CCTT) is a network of professional, community, academic, and public sector agencies that promotes Canada as the emigration destination of choice and assists individuals prior to and after arrival in Canada. It has a specific focus on technically trained professionals within the scope of engineering and applied science.

Canadian Technology Immigration Network (CTIN) has received funding to expand into international markets in order to provide overseas service to potential and actual immigrants to Canada. The CTIN Overseas project will serve as the vehicle for international out-reach through a partnership with the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and their Canadian Immigrant Integration Program (CIIP).

Canadian Foundation for Economic Education

The Canadian Foundation for Economic Education (CFEE) has updated its Newcomers to Canada DayPlanner and its employer videos. The five video vignettes profile employers’ experiences and successes in hiring internationally trained workers.

Canadian Nurses Association

The Canadian Nurses Association (CNA) is the national federation of the 12 provincial and territorial regulatory authorities for the nursing profession. The CNA is exploring the interest in and feasibility of offering licensing examinations to internationally educated nurses outside of Canada. This study, the Offshore Examination Study, will analyze the options and issues, including the implications for internationally educated nurses, the regulatory authorities, and the Canadian public.

Construction Sector Council

The Construction Sector Council has adapted the Employer’s Roadmap to Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers specifically for the construction industry. The Construction Employer’s Roadmap to Hiring and Retaining Internationally Trained Workers is available online and in hard copy.

Electricity Sector Council

The Electricity Sector Council will provide employers in the electricity sector with information and best practices on the benefits of recruiting and retaining internationally trained workers (ITWs) as well as with resources that will detail the licensure/certification process for electricity-related occupations.

Engineers Canada (Canadian Council of Professional Engineers)

Engineers Canada has received funding to develop a Canadian Language Benchmark assessment tool for international engineering graduates. The aim is to develop engineering-specific language assessment tests for internationally educated engineers. Four versions of the tests, which include both core and discipline-specific terminology, in both official languages, will be piloted. Learn more about the language benchmarking project.

Engineers Canada will create a web-based Roadmap to Engineering in Canada for International Engineering Graduates. It will include self-assessment tools, information on the engineering profession in Canada, how to get started, the Canadian work environment, available support as well as training opportunities and labour market information.

Immigrant Access Fund (IAF)

The Immigrant Access Fund provides micro loans to newcomers to assist them in obtaining Canadian accreditation, upgrading or training that will allow them to obtain employment in their specific field. This project will develop a plan for expanding the IAF loan program across Canada beginning with western provinces. It will develop and implement systems, procedures and tools to track and monitor these loans.

Information and Communications Technology Council

The Information and Communications Technology Council’s online workshops provide newcomers in Canada and immigrants overseas with initial approval to immigrate, and those who work with newcomers, with information and resources on the information and communications technology (ICT) sector. The enhanced services address language training and the labour market integration of newcomer ICT professionals in both English and French.

JVS Toronto

JVS Toronto, an immigrant-serving organization, has redesigned its CanadaInfoNet website to make its current programming more efficient and effective, and have expanded the range of services offered. This online mentoring service for newcomers serves professionals, business and trades people while they are still in their home country by providing trained Canadian mentors matched by sector, who provide occupation-specific support, information and advice.

Maytree Foundation

The Maytree Foundation will conduct research that will examine the existing and potential capacity of small to medium enterprises to employ new immigrants. It will hold a Mentoring Summit to exchange information with key stakeholders, particularly small to medium enterprises, on developing mentoring initiatives for skilled immigrants.

Public Policy Forum

The Public Policy Forum, in coordination with the Committee for Economic Development of Australia (CEDA), hosted a three-day event in Melbourne, Australia to share information and discuss strategies for improving overseas services that offer information and assessment opportunities for internationally-trained professionals before immigration. The Forum also produced a report comparing foreign qualification assessment and recognition processes in Canada and Australia with a focus on selected FQR Framework occupations.

The Alliance of Sector Councils

The Alliance of Sector Councils has received funding to develop and distribute eight regional roadmaps that will help small and medium-sized enterprises in different regions of Canada hire and retain internationally trained workers to fill skills and labour shortages.