Canada commits $10 million to help newcomers find work and enter job market faster

Funding will develop 15 projects through Canada's Foreign Credential Recognition Program

Canada is committing up to $10 million under its Foreign Credential Recognition Program for projects designed to help internationally trained newcomers find and keep well-paying jobs.

The money will provide a maximum of $800,000 each for 15 projects designed to either provide employment supports for highly skilled newcomers or facilitate the foreign credential recognition process.

A news release issued by Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) said the government is looking for “innovative and collaborative concepts from stakeholders that address specific barriers to the integration of highly skilled newcomers into the Canadian labour market.”

“Helping newcomers obtain assistance to have their foreign credentials recognized will allow them to join the Canadian workforce faster,” Canada’s Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, Patty Hajdu, said in the news release.

“Through this call for concepts, we are giving more newcomers a fair chance at success in Canada.”

ESDC said the call for concepts is open to eligible stakeholders involved in foreign credential recognition and the integration of highly skilled newcomers into the job market, such as regulatory bodies, professional associations and unions.

Concept submissions are due by April 11, 2019.

Selected applicants will then be invited to develop and submit a full project proposal.

The Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program works with Canada’s provinces and territories and stakeholders such as non-profit organizations, regulatory bodies, post-secondary institutions and employers to fund and implement programs designed to facilitate the assessment and recognition of professional credentials acquired outside Canada so skilled immigrants can find suitable employment and get to work faster.