Foreign-trained workers: Canada unveils new pact

Canadian government and its provinces have unveiled a major agreement to help foreign-trained professionals to get their credentials recognised in the country, but it provides no relief to doctors.

Immigration minister Jason Kenney has singled out the Canadian medical profession as less willing than others to 'play ball' to speed recognition of the credentials of foreign-trained professionals.

"There are some of the major professional agencies, let's make no bones about this who are less willing to co-operate, less willing to streamline the process and cut the red tape and reduce the processing time," Kenney told the Commons immigration committee on Tuesday.

The medical profession was the only one Kenney cited by name when responding to questions about a federal-provincial agreement announced Monday that commits eight occupations but not medical doctors to having a system by the end of next year to ensure foreign workers will find out within 12 months whether their credentials will be recognised in Canada.

"The list of eight that we announced (Monday) are a pretty good indication of the ones that are willing to play ball," Kenney said.

Medical doctors are among six other professions that will be required to have a speedier processing system by the end of 2012, according to the terms of the framework agreement.

Kenney suggested that despite a doctor shortage, medical licensing bodies have been reluctant to come to the table.

"They need to maintain their standards, no doubt," he told reporters later, "but we're simply saying to them through the framework (agreement), 'keep your standards but have a process that works more quickly and treats people more fairly.' "

Dr Bryan Ward, president of the Federation of Medical Regulatory Authorities of Canada, dismissed Kenney's criticisms and said he's clearly not up to date with the progress being made by the provinces in recognising the credentials of foreign doctors.

But Kenney said the slow pace for recognising foreign doctors is taking a toll on both Canadians and the newcomers.

"It's a huge opportunity cost that's lost to us to have to encourage foreign-trained medical doctors to come to Canada and have them end up cleaning hotel rooms."

The federal and provincial governments will have a system in place this month to start recognising international credentials in eight occupations, including architects, registered nurses, engineers, financial auditors and accountants, medical laboratory technologists, occupational therapists, pharmacists and physiotherapists.

Within three years, another six occupations will be added to that list, including physicians, teachers of kindergarten to Grade 12, dentists, engineering technicians, licensed practical nurses and medical radiation technologists.