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CANADIAN INDUSTRY ONLINE - JUNE 2013
W
I TH AN AGING
population
and a low birth rate, Canada
has no choice but to bring in immi-
grants in order to respond to today’s
and tomorrow’s social and economic
demands. The good news is that Can-
ada is a destination of choice for a lot
of potential immigrants, which pro-
vides us the capacity to choose which
immigrants our country should accept.
Our immigration system is well
developed. A number of changes
brought in by Citizenship and Immi-
gration Canada’s Minister, the Hon-
ourable Jason Kenney, PC, MP, have
had a positive impact on the immigra-
tion program.
What is lacking, however, is a
way to absorb Canada’s newcom-
ers into our economic system. A few
months ago, a young man greeted me
to take my luggage at my hotel. I chat-
ted a bit with him while he carried my
luggage and found that he is 24 years
old, from Eastern Europe, and he has
an engineering degree. His statement
to me was that while he hoped to be an
engineer in Canada, it was not likely
going to happen due to the fact that he
would have to redo most of his school-
ing.
Most readers will have taken taxis
driven by people with a Masters de-
gree in a challenging field. Our restau-
rants are filled with overqualified peo-
ple working in the kitchens. Most of
us can tell a similar story of someone
we’ve met who is in a similar position
to these foreign-trained immigrants.
So, what’s the issue? Diplomas
are not recognized or the experience is
too different to be properly applied in
Canada. And when newcomers can’t
practice in the same profession, two
things happen. First, Canada loses
their expertise, experience and energy.
And second, these newcomers lose pa-
tience and hope.
The bridging programs instituted
for some professions work. However,
a lawyer from Pakistan will have to
study for quite a while before becom-
ing a lawyer in Canada. The same
holds true for doctors. This is also the
case for a number of professions.
While a foreign-trained lawyer
may not want to go back to university
and spend a number of years re-train-
ing, he or she may want to become a
paralegal. A doctor may want to be-
come a nurse. An architect may want
to do drafting. There are many other
possibilities for a number of profes-
sions. They can use the skills they
have acquired and help benefit our
society, rather than becoming bell hops
and dishwashers.
This is a called an “alternative ca-
reer” pathway. It keeps the person in
their chosen field. While not enabling
them fully to have the same role and
responsibilities, it still allows them to
be involved in their area of specializa-
tion. It keeps some of their skills and
experience current, and it can become
a springboard for them to get back
into their old profession should they
choose to do so after a few years. It
also allows Canada to continue to ben-
efit from their expertise and enthusi-
asm.
In 2012, there were over 600,000
people waiting for a decision by Citi-
zenship and Immigration Canada on
their application to become permanent
residents in our country. We need to
have a plan for newcomers.
Losing out on the experience and
enthusiasm that newcomers bring to
our country would be a serious mis-
take.
While settlement agencies and
other non-profits are available to pro-
vide new immigrants with information
about bridging programs and alterna-
NACC
