Ontario Hansard - 08-June - 2006

IMMIGRANTS' SKILLS

Ms. Scott: At least you're awake -- the McGuinty government is finally coming to the table with legislation that will reduce some of the barriers that foreign-trained professionals face when coming into this country and this province to work.

Our population growth is stagnating. We will not be able to meet the future demands of the labour market within our borders. We actively need to encourage foreign-trained professionals to choose Ontario and work in their chosen field.

The problem is that we do a fabulous job of marketing Ontario overseas, but we do a very poor job of preparing them for the real challenges they face when they arrive. We make it sound like they can just hop off the plane and into an office within a week, but unfortunately this is not the case. Oftentimes they need to recertify, and to do that, they must study, pass tests and learn the English, job-specific, technical wording that will enable them to practise their trade or profession in Ontario.

They not only need the information, but a critical part of the problem is providing them with a realistic timeline. Making certain they understand that the process will take a certain period of time helps them make their decision and put plans in place to ensure the well-being of their family during that time.

Time and time again, I hear of foreign-trained professionals not working in their chosen field, often a field in need of workers, because they have not had time to study and certify in Ontario. Meanwhile, their children's need of clothes and shoes and putting a roof over their heads takes priority.

What the McGuinty government's proposed plan does not do that the Conservative government was very clear about is that the information-sharing and certification process needs to take place before these professionals have uprooted their families and sold their homes and moved to Ontario. As usual, the McGuinty government has chosen to take an issue that needs our attention as one of the key pieces of the puzzle to keep Ontario moving forward, and they have gone only halfway.

Has the McGuinty government made provisions for these foreign-trained professionals to get access to this information in their own language? No. Is the McGuinty government truly focused on streamlining access to Ontario by foreign-trained professionals? No. If they were, they would have started the certification process in their home country, not waiting until they sell up and pack up their homes and move here to begin the process.

This is a step in the right direction, but as usual, the Liberal government has only gone halfway up the stairs. We have much more work to do with this legislation before we can start patting ourselves on the back.