Bill 124, Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act (2006) Passes. Legislation to break down barriers so that internationally trained professionals can work in their fields sooner was passed late yesterday in the Ontario Legislature, Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle announced today. "This legislation is long overdue," said Colle. "It will go a long way to ensure that newcomers are a brain gain for Ontario, not a brain waste." The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, the first legislation of its kind in Canada, would require Ontario's regulated professions to ensure their licensing process is fair, clear and open. They would also be required to assess credentials more quickly. "This bill represents one of the boldest attempts by a provincial government to address inequities that confront newcomers," said Madina Wasuge, Executive Director of the Hamilton's Centre for Civic Inclusion. The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, would: Require 34 regulated professions in Ontario to have a licensing process that has fair, open and timely assessment of credentials of foreign trained professionals. Establish the Office of the Fairness Commissioner who would be responsible for assessing registration and licensing practices, and ensure compliance. Create an Access Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals, a new one-stop resource centre that would help people navigate through the complex systems when seeking to enter regulated professions, and promote internships and mentoring programs.
Breaking Down Barriers: Ontario's Comprehensive Plan for Newcomers. The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, is a key component of the McGuinty government's comprehensive plan, Breaking Down Barriers, for newcomers to integrate successfully into Ontario's economy. Other initiatives include: Negotiated the first-ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, which quadruples federal spending on language training and settlement services and brings an additional $920 million to assist Ontario newcomers over five years; Developed All About Ontario, a new citizenship curriculum resource to be added to language and citizenship classes in early 2007 to help newcomers learn about Ontario's history, geography, their roles and responsibilities, and to promote civic participation from voting to volunteering; Invested over $34 million in more than 60 Bridge Training Programs, helping thousands of newcomers work in over 100 trades and professions; Launched immigration web portal, www.OntarioImmigration.ca which is designed to support newcomers both in Ontario and abroad, prior to arrival; Established the first Provincial Internship for the Internationally Trained. Administered by Career Bridge, newcomers with a minimum of three years international work experience will be placed for six-month paid assignments within the Ontario Public Service and Crown Agencies; Created a Foreign Trained Professionals Loans program of up to $5,000 per person to cover assessment, training and exam costs, in partnership with the Maytree Foundation; and, Total annual investment of $130 million, more than any other province in Canada, on programs to help newcomers upgrade their language skills, settle and find work. Our government is keeping its commitment to break down the barriers that prevent newcomers from entering the workforce. We are determined to ensure that Ontario's newcomers have every opportunity to succeed and participate in our economy, said Colle.
Breaking Down Barriers: Ontario's Comprehensive Plan for Newcomers. The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, is a key component of the McGuinty government's comprehensive plan, Breaking Down Barriers, for newcomers to integrate successfully into Ontario's economy. Other initiatives include: Negotiated the first-ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, which quadruples federal spending on language training and settlement services and brings an additional $920 million to assist Ontario newcomers over five years; Developed All About Ontario, a new citizenship curriculum resource to be added to language and citizenship classes in early 2007 to help newcomers learn about Ontario's history, geography, their roles and responsibilities, and to promote civic participation from voting to volunteering; Invested over $34 million in more than 60 Bridge Training Programs, helping thousands of newcomers work in over 100 trades and professions; Launched immigration web portal, www.OntarioImmigration.ca which is designed to support newcomers both in Ontario and abroad, prior to arrival; Established the first Provincial Internship for the Internationally Trained. Administered by Career Bridge, newcomers with a minimum of three years international work experience will be placed for six-month paid assignments within the Ontario Public Service and Crown Agencies; Created a Foreign Trained Professionals Loans program of up to $5,000 per person to cover assessment, training and exam costs, in partnership with the Maytree Foundation; and, Total annual investment of $130 million, more than any other province in Canada, on programs to help newcomers upgrade their language skills, settle and find work. Our government is keeping its commitment to break down the barriers that prevent newcomers from entering the workforce. We are determined to ensure that Ontario's newcomers have every opportunity to succeed and participate in our economy, said Colle.
