Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Access to Professions and Trades in Ontario Shamira Madhany

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Each Year Ontario Receives Over 100,000 Immigrants 60% of all immigrants to Canada come to Ontario 74% of immigrants ages are highly educated and trained Of these, 23% testify to being qualified in a regulated profession or trade

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Barriers to Access to Professions and Trades for Internationally Trained and Educated Individuals Barriers include lack of:  Information  Tools to assess academic credentials and prior experience  Language testing and occupational specific language training  Supplementary bridging education  Canadian work experience

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Key Players in Access to Professions and Trades (APT) Federal Government Promotion Recruitment Selection Ontario Government Education Training Licensure Occupational Regulatory Bodies Legal authority to set standards and entry to practice requirements Educational requirements Experience Language Proficiency Qualifying Exam Canadian Internship 9 APT Unit (TCU)

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Role of Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, Access to Professions & Trades Unit Facilitate the development of sustainable infrastructure that brings stakeholders together to develop information materials, assessment methods, tools and supports to remove barriers to labour market access Key partners are occupational regulatory bodies, employers, educational institutions, community agencies, other ministries and levels of government and World Education Services (WES), an academic credential assessment service funded in part by MTCU

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Collaboration With Partners 14 bridge training projects in strategic skill sectors develop ways for employers, regulatory bodies and educational institutions to:  Assess existing skills and competencies and provide training and Canadian workplace experience  Help qualified individuals move quickly into the labour market without duplicating what they have already learned elsewhere  Develop models that can be adapted by other organizations and sectors

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Tools and Information Occupational fact sheets—provide comprehensive, up-to-date information for new and prospective immigrants about entry-to-practice requirements and labour market conditions in different regulated professions and trades Web site—provides information on APT issues and links to other relevant sites Prior learning assessment and recognition (PLAR) tools and processes Sector-specific Training Information and Counselling (STIC)—pilot delivered though Job Connect agencies to provide customized employment services to internationally trained individuals

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Strategic Engagement Support for leadership initiatives by regulator and employer groups Projects encourage other regulators and employers to develop their own access initiatives and implement changes in their policies, programs and service delivery

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Working with Occupational Regulatory Bodies Committee of regulators to develop a set of practical tools and materials that support and encourage regulators to improve access for internationally educated and trained individuals Products:  Compendium of promising programs, practices and projects initiated by regulators to facilitate APT  Resource Guide providing principles and strategies for promoting APT  Self-assessment Guide/Checklist for examining current practices, assessing impact of access initiatives and sharing results with others

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Working with Employers Canadian Manufacturers and Exporters (CME) has been contracted by the Ministry to develop a guide on the business case for hiring internationally educated and trained immigrants Product:  CME Tool Kit will assist businesses to understand the benefits of recognizing and hiring internationally educated and trained immigrants Initiatives that involve other employers are being developed

Presented at CLEAR’s 23rd Annual Conference Toronto, Ontario September, 2003 Presentation Follow-up Please pick up a handout from this presentation Presentation materials will be posted on CLEAR’s website Contact: Access to Professions and Trades Unit Tel: