Whitehorse – Across Canada, Canadians are facing labour shortages and the demand for qualified workers continues to grow. Long wait times and difficulty finding a family physician are far too common for people across the country. That is why the Government of Canada is investing to speed up accreditation for internationally educated health professionals (IEHPs).
Rechie Veldez, Minister of Small Business, on behalf of Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, along with Yukon’s Premier Ranj Pillai, Yukon’s Minister of Health and Social Services, Tracy-Anne McPhee and Brendan Hanley, Member of Parliament for Yukon, announced up to $3.65 million in funding to the Government of Yukon through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program to improve the integration of IEHPs into the Yukon labour market.
This four-year, transformative project will have a lasting impact by taking steps to create a Yukon territorial licensure regulatory process, which currently does not exist in the territory. It will also create a Yukon Foreign Credential Recognition Centre to support both employers and skilled newcomers in navigating career pathways and regulatory processes in Yukon to get more workers into the health care sector. The project will support up to 150 newcomers by providing career navigation supports and will offer a targeted nurse bridging program for participating international jurisdictions. The project targets key health care occupations with an emphasis on licensed practical nurses, registered nurses, registered psychiatric nurses, nurse practitioners and midwives.
On January 15, 2024, Minister Boissonnault announced similar funding to various organizations across Canada to respond to regional labour market gaps in the health care sector. Projects funded under the Foreign Credential Recognition Program will:
- Reduce barriers to foreign credential recognition for IEHPs by improving recognition processes, simplifying steps in credential recognition and offering increased access to practice in the field.
- Provide IEHPs with relevant Canadian work experience in their intended fields, while incorporating wraparound supports such as child care and transportation costs, as well as mentoring and coaching.
- Facilitate labour mobility between jurisdictions in Canada for health professionals and IEHPs to reduce the systemic and administrative barriers for health professionals who wish to work in another jurisdiction in Canada.
Today’s announcement builds on the commitment made by the Government of Canada with provinces and territories during the October 2023 Health Ministers’ Meeting, to take concrete actions to address challenges facing Canada’s health workforce including reducing the time it takes for IEHPs to join the health workforce. Funding will go directly to key occupations like nursing, pharmacy, dentistry, laboratory technicians and respiratory therapy.
The Foreign Credential Recognition Program works with provinces, territories, regulatory bodies and other organizations by funding projects to support faster and more efficient credential recognition systems with the goal of growing Canada’s economy, creating quality employment and promoting a more sustainable health workforce.
“Choosing Canada to build a new life for one’s family should not come at the cost of being barred from practicing in one’s field of expertise. The Foreign Credential Recognition Program is helping new Canadians thrive in our workforce, and fill labour gaps across the country.” – Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages
“Health care workers deliver the care that Canadians need. By bringing in new workers and retaining those who are already there, we can help relieve the labour challenges in our health care system. This federal funding supports our government’s work with provinces, territories and stakeholders to have more health care workers enter Canada’s workforce and to streamline that process. Together, this will improve our health care system so Canadians can get the care they need and deserve.” – Mark Holland, Minister of Health