Toronto: 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 yesterday.
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.
PTI
First Published: Wednesday, December 02, 2009, 13:45