Canada offers $1.5 million to eliminate barriers to immigrants wanting to work in the health sector.
The parliamentary secretary of immigration minister Sean Fraser announced nearly $1.5 million in aid to immigrants to work within the Canadian health system faster.
The money is intended to encourage collaboration and information sharing within the health industry. Mainly, they will help professionals from all over the world gain recognition for their qualifications faster.
The initiative is based on the success of the National Newcomer Navigation Network (N4), an online platform designed for medical professionals from abroad who are interested in working in Canada. N4 was established in 2019 by Children’s Hospital Eastern Ontario (CHEO).
“CHEO has a proven track record of ensuring health and social service sector professionals have the knowledge and tools to provide equitable care and services to newcomers,” said Marie-France Lalonde, Parliamentary Secretary to the immigration minister. “We are thrilled to continue collaborating in partnership with The National Newcomer Navigation Network to aid health care professionals trained abroad to secure jobs in Canada’s health sector. The services will assist more immigrants to succeed while aiding in building a better future for everyone Canadians”.
Additionally, to assist internationally trained health professionals who work in Canada, The funds will also allow N4 to act as a portal where newcomers will be able to find information about the recognition of foreign qualifications and credentials in all territories and provinces beyond Quebec.
“Newcomers are an integral part of our communities,” said Alex Munter, CEO and CHEO president. “Their full inclusion in our healthcare workforce will help us address staffing shortages while incorporating richly diverse voices of lived experience and better supporting other newcomers.”
The money comes from a specific stream in Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada‘s Settlement Program, which funds projects that help to support the development of future settlement programs. IRCC has given $1.02 billion for settlement services between 2022 and 2023, an increase of approximately 11% over 2021-2022 as per public documents obtained through CIC news.
Canada is experiencing a tight labour market, particularly in the healthcare sector. Statistic Canada recently reported record numbers of job openings in social and health services. In March, over 1 million doors in social assistance and health care employers were looking to fill 154,500 positions.
Express Programs for entry into health care professionals
Health professionals could be qualified for an opportunity to participate in the Federal Skilled Worker Program (FSWP) and The Canadian Experience Class (CEC). The two federal programs for immigration are run through Canadavisa’s Express Entry system.
Express Entry (Express Entry) is an electronic system which manages applications for immigration by the government of the United States. It uses the Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) to evaluate eligible applicants based on their work experiences, age, education, proficiency in the official language and other aspects. Candidates who score the highest are accepted to be considered for permanent residency during the biweekly draws for Express Entry.
While draws of CEC and FSWP applicants were halted in the course of the pandemic outbreak, however, Minister Fraser earlier announced that the draws would begin in July. Minister Fraser also stated that the process standard for all new Express Entry applicants would return to six months.
PNP for health professionals
While IRCC has the final say regarding who is eligible to immigrate to Canada, Provinces can nominate qualified candidates through their Provincial Nominee Programme (PNP). Certain PNPs are specifically designed for professionals in the health field. While others have more general work experience requirements, they may also hold nominations for immigrants that specifically target those within the area.
Different provinces have more or less one program to welcome health experts. Sometimes, PNPs choose applicants through those who are part of the Express Entry system and invite candidates to apply for provincial nominations. If they are nominated and accepted, they will receive 600 points from CRS, added to their Express Entry score. This is more than enough to allow the applicant to be invited to make an application to obtain permanent residency.
Here are a few PNP routes for health healthcare professionals:
- Ontario encourages health professionals to apply to their Human Capital Priorities Stream.
- British Columbia offers the Health Care Professional category under its Skills Immigration and Express Entry routes.
- Saskatchewan has just opened the International Health Worker EOI pool specifically designed for health professionals.
- The Nova Scotia’s Labour Market Priorities Stream periodically draws in which health professionals are invited for applications for nomination to the provincial government.
- New Brunswick’s Internationally Educated Nurses (IEN) program offers an opportunity for nurses from abroad who are fluent in English and French.
Quebec
Quebec has its system of immigration. Specific programs, such as those offered by the PNP or Express Entry, are not available in Quebec.
Quebec provides the Standard Skilled Worker program, as well as Quebec also has the Quebec Experience Program. Health professionals might be eligible for one or both of them. Both programs require applicants to have an adequate understanding of French. French language.
Caregiver pilot programs
Caregivers might be eligible to obtain permanent residency by applying for an application process called the Family Home Care Pilot program or the home support Worker Pilot if they have an offer of employment for one of two eligible jobs and satisfy the other eligibility requirements. Experience in the field must be categorized under National Occupational Classification (NOC) codes 4411 or 4412.
In these trials, applicants can obtain an open permit to be admitted to Canada and work in Canada.
To be qualified for permanent residency, applicants must have at least 24-months of continuous full-time job experience over 36 months before applying. Additionally, they must submit tests that show the Canadian Language Benchmark (CLB) of five or more and one years of postsecondary education. Like all permanent residency applicants, they’ll be required to pass admissions checks successfully.
