Proposed Legislation Would Eliminate the Work Experience Requirement for Professional Licensing
Ontario is preparing to introduce legislation that would make it easier for immigrants in the province to become licensed to work in their chosen profession.
According to the Canadian Press, if passed, the legislation would eliminate the requirement that immigrants have Canadian work experience in order to get licensed.
It would also make English-language testing requirements more standardized and fast-track application processing.
Ontario Labour Minister Monte McNaughton told the Canadian Press in an interview that the changes would remove barriers for immigrants seeking out employment in their chosen profession.
“It really is an injustice when you think of only 25 per cent of immigrants in Ontario work actually in jobs and professions that they were trained for,” he said. “It’s all about improving their lives, ensuring that they get bigger paychecks and more worker protections.” If the legislation is passed, the changes will go into effect within two years.
The proposed legislation will apply directly to the licensing bodies that oversee professions such as:
- Architects
- Teachers
- Accountants
- Social Workers
- Electricians
- Plumbers
- Hoisting Engineers
- And More
It will not affect medical professionals like doctors and nurses.
Licensing bodies will be able to apply for exemptions so that they can continue to require immigrant candidates to provide proof of Canadian work experience, but they must obtain government approval first. “They have to make a health and safety case, which would come to the minister for approval” McNaughton said.
The news of these proposed changes comes shortly after Ontario Premier Doug Ford spoke out about the labour shortage in Ontario and urged immigrants to come to Ontario to work. However, he received criticism for saying that only “hardworking” immigrants would be welcome.
“You come here like every other new Canadian. You work your tail off,” Ford said. “If you think you’re coming to collect the dole and sit around, it’s not going to happen. Go somewhere else.” Ford has refused to apologize for the comments, but clarified that he is “pro-immigration.”
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Arghavan Gerami
Arghavan Gerami is the Founder and Senior Counsel at Gerami Law Professional Corporation ('PC'), a full-service immigration law firm in Ottawa, Ontario. Since 2011, Ms. Gerami has focused her practice on immigration and refugee litigation. Prior to that, Ms. Gerami worked at the Ministry of Attorney General and the Department of Justice and had the privilege of serving the Honourable Mr. Justice M. Evans at the Federal Court of Appeal on immigration and administrative law appeals. Ms. Gerami contributes to the Immigration Law Section of the Canadian Bar Association, the Canadian Association of Refugee Lawyers, and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Gerami has also published numerous journal articles and presented at various immigration and refugee law conferences and events across Canada.