global experience ontario presentation to the newcomer organizations network (ncon) meeting july...

Global Experience OntarioGlobal Experience Ontario

Presentation to thePresentation to theNewcomer Organizations Network (NCON) Meeting

July 2007July 2007

Global Experience Ontario (GEO) July 2007 2

Context

Immigration to Ontario

• 277,973 of the 385,352 immigrants to Ontario in 2003-2005 were aged 18 to 64, at the time of landing.

In this age group:— 50% (137,940) held a university degree — 10% (26,790) had a non-university diploma— 4% (11,377) had a trade certificate— 13% (35,933) intended to work in a regulated profession or trade in

Ontario— 7% (18,908) intended to work as engineers— About 29 % could not communicate in English or French at the time of

landing


Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration Recent Initiatives:

• Passing the landmark Bill 124 – The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006. This legislation will break down barriers for internationally trained and educated individuals to obtain a license to work in their field of expertise.

• Global Experience Ontario, An Access and Resource Centre for the Internationally Trained.

• Signing the first ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement to invest in settlement and language training.

• More than 90 Bridge Training Programs helping thousands of newcomers work in over 100 trades and professions.

• Providing Occupation-Specific Language Training in English and French as-a-Second Language.

• The Internship Program for Internationally Trained Individuals in partnership with Career Bridge.

• Ontario’s Pilot Provincial Nominee Program, Ontario’s first ever employer driven nomination program launched on May 24.

Context (cont.)


Context (cont.)

The Thomson Report

• The Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration released the Thomson Review of Appeal Processes from Registration Decisions in Ontario’s Regulated Professions on November 10, 2005.

• Principles that guided the Thomson Report were fairness, accountability, objectivity, transparency and collaboration.

• The Thomson Report identified many important issues such as:— Lack of consistent pre-application requirements.— Lack of clear and complete information about professional standards and

admission requirements.— Insufficient opportunities to demonstrate competence.— Decision-makers may lack relevant skills to assess international credentials and

experience.— Inability to appeal or review a registration decision.


Context (cont.)

Key Recommendations of the Thomson Report

• Accessible Information About Registration and Appeal Processes

• Clear Criteria for Decision-Making

• Reasonable fees

• Access to documents on file

• Timeliness

• Alternative ways to confirm credentials or demonstrate competency when documents are unobtainable

• Training for decision-makers

• Independent audit and review of the registration practices


Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006

• Bill 124, the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, was passed on December 12, 2006 and proclaimed on March 1, 2007.

• Part V of the Act establishes the Access Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals.

• Global Experience Ontario – an Access and Resource Centre for Internationally Trained Individuals, opened its doors to the public on December 18, 2006.


The Office of the Fairness Commissioner

• The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, establishes the Office of the Fairness Commissioner.

• The Office functions as an independent agency .

• Under the legislation, the Fairness Commissioner has a number of duties including:

— Assessing the registration practices of regulated professions based on their obligations under the Act.

— Specifying and consulting with regulated professions on the scope, cost and timing of audits.

— Monitoring third parties relied on by regulated professions for assessments.— Providing information and advice to regulated professions.— Advising regulated professions, ministries, government agencies, community

agencies, colleges and universities, and third parties relied on by regulated professions (for assessments) on matters related to the Act.

— Reporting to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration on matters related to internationally trained individuals and their registration by regulated professions.


WHAT IS GLOBAL EXPERIENCE ONTARIO?

Global Experience Ontario (GEO) is an

information and referral centre within

Ontario’s Ministry of Citizenship and

Immigration.


The 13 non-health regulated professions in Ontario under Bill 124

• Architecture

• Certified Engineering Technicians and Technology

• Certified General Accounting

• Certified Management Accounting

• Chartered Accounting

• Forestry

• Land Surveying

• Law (including Paralegal)

• Professional Engineering

• Professional Geoscientists

• Social Work and Social Service Workers

• Teaching

• Veterinary Medicine


GEO’s Primary Functions

1. Provide information and assistance to:— Internationally Trained Individuals (ITIs) who are

interested in professional accreditation in the 13 non-health regulated professions covered under the Act.

— Ministries, government agencies and community agencies that serve ITIs.

— Organizations including: schools, school boards, colleges, universities, occupational and trade associations, employers and regulated professions.


GEO’s Primary Functions (cont.)

2. Conduct research, analyse trends, identify issues and prepare reports— Information collected from clients is kept confidential.

— Data trends, issues and analyses are shared with senior management and appropriate organizations.


GEO’s Primary Functions (cont.)

3. Provide information and assistance on internships and mentorships to:— Ministries, government agencies and community

agencies that deal with internationally trained individuals.

— Organizations including: schools, school boards, colleges, universities, occupational and trade associations, employers and regulated professions.


GEO SERVICES

• Information on regulated professions

• Referrals to regulatory bodies

• Information and referral to support programs:— employment programs

— financial assistance

— mentorships and internships

— bridge training programs

— language training programs


GEO Modes of Access

• Services are provided to clients in person, by telephone and through email.

• GEO has a North-America wide toll-free number.

• GEO is also accepting international collect calls.


General Trends

Clients Requesting Information about Each Regulated Profession Dec. 18th, 2006 to May 31st, 2007

Prof. Engineering, 32.72%

Other Professions, 21.73%

Teaching, 13.87%CGA, 10.47%

CA, 6.81%

CMA, 6.81%

Cert Engineering Tech. & Tech., 8.12%

Law, 7.59%

Trade, 4.45%

Social work, 3.66%

Veterinary, 3.40%

Architecture, 2.88%

Geoscience, 1.57%

Land Surveying, 1.31%

Forestry, 1.05%

*Please note that each client may have requested information for more than one profession.


General Trends (cont.)

Clients' Country of Origin Dec. 18th, 2006 to May 31st, 2007

Colombia, 2.09%

Mexico, 2.09%

Ukraine, 2.09%

Sri Lanka, 2.36%

Russia, 4.19%

Philippines, 4.45%

Pakistan, 4.97%

Iran, 5.24%

China, 6.02%

India, 16.75%

Other, 49.74%

*GEO has served clients from over 78 countries; the percentajes for the top 10 countries are reported in this graph.



How did Clients hear about GEO?Dec. 18th, 2006 to May 31st, 2007

Ontarioimmigration.ca, 22.51%

Government, 14.66%

Family/Friend, 14.14%Community Agency, 13.61%

Media, 10.99%

Internet, 10.73%

Educational Institution, 6.81%

Other, 5.76%

Employer / Work, 0.79%



Services Requested Dec. 18th, 2006 to May 31st, 2007

Info Regulated Profession, 63.87%

Info Employment, 40.05%

Info Training Program, 29.58%

General Inquiry, 11.26%

Info Trade, 4.97%

Info Immigration, 3.40%

*Please note that each client may have requested more than one service.



Clients Referred to GEO StakeholdersDec. 18th, 2006 to May 31st, 2007

Employment Ontario / Job Connect, 63.09%

Regulatory Body, 61.52%

Community Agency, 54.19%

Internship / Bridging Projects, 49.74%

Mentorship Program, 42.15%

Financial Assistance, 21.73%

Other , 11.78%

MTCU, 7.07%

Immigration, 5.24%

Employment Insurance / Social Assistance, 2.88%

*Please note that each client may have been referred to more than one stakeholder.


Health Force Ontario

• GEO is co-located with Health Force Ontario (HFO).

• Health Force Ontario provides services for the health regulated professions.

• HFO services are available in person, by telephone and online.


General GEO Contact Information

• In person: 285 Victoria Street 7th Floor - Toronto

• E-mail: [email protected]

• Web site: www.OntarioImmigration.ca

• Tel: 1-866-670-4094 or 416-327-9694

• TTY: 416-598-5964

global experience ontario presentation to the newcomer organizations network (ncon) meeting july...

Documents

global experience ontario

ontarios regulated professions

professions act

trained individuals

access centre

fair access

context immigration

time of landing slide