Source: Welland Tribune
Federal funding for a pilot project to recognize the credentials of foreign health-care professionals will help integrate them into the Canadian labour market, says Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre executive director Janet Madume.
In an email, Madume said the Internationally Educated Health Professionals (IEHP) Hub pilot project is not “merely a program but a beacon of hope for individuals seeking to overcome barriers and navigate the complexities of accessing resources and support services in Ontario.”
The Welland agency will receive as much as $562,675 through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program to run the project, said Niagara Centre Liberal MP Vance Badawey in speaking notes provided to The Tribune.
The government announced $86 million for 15 organizations across Canada, including Welland’s, to increase the capacity for foreign credential recognition of approximately 6,600 internationally educated health professionals.
Badawey said the Canadian health-care sector faces labour shortages — physicians, nurses, paramedics, respiratory therapists, medical laboratory technologists — with low unemployment rates, and the program and funding will help fill those vacancies in Niagara and across Canada.
“Long wait times and difficulty finding a family physician are far too common for people across the country,” said Badawey.
Madume said the grant signifies more than just financial support; it symbolizes the government’s commitment to fostering inclusivity, diversity and the overall prosperity of the community.
“It reflects a shared vision of a society where everyone, regardless of their background, has equal opportunities to succeed and contribute to the richness of our nation,” she said in the email.
She said the agency’s objective is to empower newcomers by offering pre-arrival assistance and guiding them through the process of recognizing their foreign credentials.