Ontario will help immigrants get jobs

On October 21, Labour Minister Monte McNaughton proposed legislation that would help address labour shortages across the province Ontario. This bill should address the barriers immigrants face in finding employment.

According to the minister, often Canadian graduates can't get a job in their profession because of bureaucracy. To help them, the government is proposing:

• Eliminate the requirement of Canadian work experience for licensing and professional registration. Exclude occupations related to public health and safety;
• reduce the number of official language tests, as they are duplicated in immigration and licensing;
• reduce the registration process for candidates with in-demand professions in case of emergencies;
• monitor the timely completion of the licensing process to help foreign graduates of Canadian universities enter the profession.

According to 2016 statistics, only a quarter of immigrants trained in Ontario found jobs in their profession. It now takes 18 months or more for some professions to be licensed and is unprofitable for the Canadian economy.

If enacted, the changes would apply to professions such as engineers, architects, plumbers, electricians, accountants, barbers, teachers and caretakers of young children. For health-related professions, these changes do not apply. However, the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development will work with the Ministry of Health to see if these changes can be adapted for health professions.