Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC) is dedicated to supporting internationally trained professionals (ITPs) through its Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program. This year, the program aims to establish 58 agreements benefiting approximately 32,000 ITPs, with a focus on newcomers to Canada.

Scale and Details Unveiled

ESDC’s latest departmental plan outlines the target of 58 agreements, encompassing around 32,000 ITPs. These agreements, primarily in healthcare and construction, aim to enhance the integration of ITPs into the Canadian labor market. Partner organizations will receive funding to facilitate faster credential recognition, provide FCR loans, and offer employment support.

The FCR program’s initiatives include a Foreign Credential Recognition Action Fund, with the federal government committing $97 million CAD over five years to improve the fairness and transparency of foreign credential recognition processes, particularly in healthcare and construction sectors.