Ontario Welcoming Skilled Immigrants by Removing Work Experience Hurdles

By removing unfair barriers for immigrants with international training, Ontario is at the forefront of the trend toward a workforce that promotes diversity and equality. The province is giving brilliant immigrants the chance to actively pursue their intended jobs by enacting trailblazing rules that prohibit regulated professions from requiring Canadian work experience across more than 30 occupations.

The 30 occupations impacted by the law span a wide spectrum of regulated professions and trades, including law, accountancy, architecture, engineering, electrical work, and plumbing.

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) taking the initiative to do away with the need for Canadian work experience with the implementation of provincial rules, setting a precedent for other regulated professions to follow suit.

While preserving Ontario’s strict requirements for licensing and examination prerequisites, this extraordinary development has the potential to open up a wide range of opportunities for highly competent persons.

Challenges Faced by Skilled Immigrants in Ontario

Internationally educated immigrants in Ontario sadly face a lot of difficulties.

Many people with excellent skills, such as engineers, physicians, and accountants, find themselves employed in mundane positions that are unrelated to their fields of competence.

This not only underutilizes their talents but also causes Ontario to suffer a serious economic setback. According to statistics, the province as a whole has about 300,000 available jobs at any given time, with a sizable portion of those jobs being in the engineering sector. As a result, productivity losses amount to billions of dollars.

Alarmingly, research has shown that just a quarter of immigrants in Ontario with international training are currently working in the regulated professions for which they were particularly educated.

Ontario Eliminating the Work Experience Requirements for Skilled Immigrants

Acknowledging the urgent need to tackle this issue, the government of Ontario has taken resolute steps to ensure a fair and equal opportunity for skilled immigrants.

A groundbreaking legislation, known as the Working for Workers Act, of 2021, has made history by eliminating the discriminatory practice of requiring Canadian work experience in occupations regulated by the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA).

This significant stride towards progress has opened doors for internationally-trained professionals, granting them equal opportunities to pursue their desired careers in the province of Ontario.

Enhancing Opportunities for Skilled Immigrants

By removing the requirement for Canadian experience from their application requirements, Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) has distinguished itself as a pioneer among the regulated professions in Ontario. Internationally trained engineers make up a sizable 60% of the applications for engineering licenses that PEO receives each year.

Through the removal of the Canadian experience requirement during the engineering license application process, PEO aims to expedite the licensing of qualified international candidates. This accelerated process enables them to actively contribute to Ontario’s economy as engineers.

It is essential to highlight that PEO upholds a strict commitment to honoring licensing requirements and a competency-based assessment process. This commitment guarantees that only people with the required credentials and abilities are permitted to practice engineering professionally.

Making Inclusivity and Diversity a Priority

Ontario’s innovative effort to abolish unfair Canadian work experience requirements is a ground-breaking accomplishment inside Canada.

Beginning in December 2023, all unjust requirements for Canadian experience will be nullified, except in situations when the Ministry of Labor, Immigration, Training, and Skills Development grants an exception due to worries about the health and safety of the people.

With this innovative move, the government has shown its unwavering dedication to creating a workforce that values inclusivity and diversity as well as the abilities and potential of immigrants.

Effect of Eliminating the Canadian Work Experience on the Economy

The elimination of Canadian work experience prerequisites brings immense potential to Ontario’s economy.

With a vast talent pool of highly skilled professionals now able to actively pursue their desired careers, the province stands to gain from their expertise, innovative ideas, and valuable contributions.

By closing the gap between skills and employment, Ontario can effectively address the pervasive problem of unfilled job vacancies, thereby enhancing productivity across diverse sectors.

The impact extends beyond the economic realm and holds social significance as well. Skilled newcomers are provided with the opportunity to fulfill their professional aspirations, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and contribute to the overall prosperity of the province.

Recognition Support to Skilled Immigrants in Ontario

The province’s courageous initiative in eliminating unjust barriers for skilled newcomers has garnered extensive support and recognition.

Tonie Chaltas, CEO of Achv sees this as a triple-win situation that will help employers, immigrants, and Ontario’s economy as a whole. Newcomer Women’s Services Executive Director Sara Asalya applauds the government’s commitment to promoting the economic integration and well-being of immigrants.

Teresa M. Torralba, Executive Director of the Philippine Legacy and Cultural Alliance (PLACA), applauds Minister McNaughton’s leadership in spearheading legislation that fosters equal opportunities for all.

Elise Herzig, the elimination of the need for Canadian work experience allows newcomers to work in their desired sectors and achieve economic independence, says JIAS Toronto’s executive director.

Government Efforts for Removal of Work Barriers for Skilled Immigrants

The government has enacted revolutionary legislation that effectively bans regulated professions from imposing Canadian work experience as a requirement in more than 30 occupations.

The purpose of this significant measure is to provide skilled newcomers with the opportunity to pursue their desired careers without encountering unjust work barriers.

Professions Selected for Removing Canadian Work Experience Requirements

Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) is at the forefront of the industry by removing the requirement of Canadian experience from their application criteria.

This progressive step ensures that qualified international applicants can obtain their licenses more efficiently, empowering them to make valuable contributions to Ontario’s economy as engineers.

The Importance of Ontario’s Inclusivity Initiative

Ontario is establishing itself as a trailblazer in Canada by prohibiting unfair or discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements.

This firm stance by the government signifies a dedication to fostering a workforce that embraces inclusivity and diversity, acknowledging the immense talent and potential of skilled newcomers.

Through the removal of these barriers, the province is actively promoting equal opportunities and striving towards a more equitable society.

Ontario Driving Economic Growth and Empowerment by Giving Opportunity to Skilled Immigrants

The elimination of these requirements brings forth considerable potential for Ontario’s economy.

By enabling a broader group of highly skilled professionals to actively pursue their desired careers, the province stands to gain from their expertise, innovative ideas, and valuable contributions.

This step will help alleviate the problem of unfilled job vacancies, enhance productivity across various sectors, and contribute to overall economic growth.

Moreover, skilled newcomers will have the opportunity to fulfill their professional aspirations, achieve economic self-sufficiency, and make significant contributions to the prosperity of Ontario.

Conclusion

Ontario’s unwavering commitment to dismantling unjust work barriers for skilled newcomers signifies a momentous achievement in fostering a workforce that is inclusive and diverse.

Through the elimination of discriminatory Canadian work experience requirements, the province has taken a significant stride in harnessing the talents and abilities of internationally-trained professionals.

The pioneering decision by Professional Engineers Ontario (PEO) to remove the Canadian experience prerequisite sets a compelling precedent for other regulated professions to emulate.

As Ontario emerges as a frontrunner in cultivating an environment that embraces skilled immigrants, it unlocks a multitude of opportunities, fuels economic growth, and solidifies the province’s position as a global leader.

With this progressive approach, the province is laying the foundation for a stronger and more prosperous future that benefits all its residents.