Speeding to a New Career in Canada

OTTAWA, ONTARIO — Eduardo Lumibao migrated to Canada from the Philippines with his family in August of 2008, hoping his children would have a brighter future here.

Before the move, Eduardo did a lot of research. “We tried to have as much knowledge as we could to better guide us when we set foot in our dream country,” says Eduardo.

He searched the Internet, spoke with friends living in Canada, and attended a seminar put on by the Association of Canadian Community Colleges’ Canadian Immigration Integration Project (CIIP). CIIP is funded by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada’s (HRSDC) Foreign Credential Recognition program.

Eduardo says: “The CIIP counsellors helped me and my wife map out our career path in Canada in relation to our work experience and expertise. They made us understand that it is possible to get a job in Canada that is close or related to what we were previously doing in the Philippines.”

Eduardo had been working as an automotive technician and college instructor for 15 years and hoped to work in the same field when he arrived in Canada. The CIIP provided him with information on living and working in Canada, settlement, trade certifications and credential assessment, as well as referrals to Canadian organizations that could supply more specialized advice and practical assistance.

According to Eduardo, the Government of Canada’s Web-based Working in Canada Tool was another essential element to his career planning. The Tool helps newcomers make well-informed decisions about where to live and work. It produces a report that contains information on job descriptions, wages, skills, language training and job opportunities tailored to their needs

Eduardo has been successful in obtaining a job in his field. He started working at a small garage one week after he arrived in Canada. After landing this job, he set his sights on working with one of the bigger auto servicing companies, and was soon hired at Toyota Mendez, where he is still working. In the spring of 2009, Eduardo also passed his exam to become a certified automotive technician.

“I am very grateful to the CIIP because it opened my eyes to the endless possibilities for my career in Canada, and I am happy that it is coming along the way I expected it to,” says Eduardo. HRSDC’s Foreign Credential Recognition program helps integrate internationally trained workers into the workforce by working with key stakeholders to improve the assessment and recognition of newcomers’ qualifications.

Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the federal government is investing $50 million over the next two years to develop a pan-Canadian framework on foreign credential recognition with the provinces and territories. The goal is to ensure that internationally educated professionals have their qualifications assessed and recognized in a fair, consistent, accessible and efficient manner.

With the support of the Foreign Credential Recognition program and the Foreign Credentials Referral Office, real progress is being made in addressing barriers to foreign credential recognition in Canada.