Meant to help skilled British, Irish tradespeople find work in Canada
A new international study that will help British- and Irish-trained tradespeople assess their skills against Canadian criteria is being supported by Citizenship and Immigration Canada (CIC).
An agreement between the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the United Kingdom's National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC) was signed in London, England, recently.
"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity. This project will help employers find the skilled employees they need to expand their businesses, succeed and help newcomers get a job at their skill level faster,” said Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney, on behalf of Canada's Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander.
The project is a component of the CIC-funded Canadian Immigrant Integration Program, which provides newcomers with labour market information and helps them gain employment that reflects their skills, credentials and experience.
The study will identify how British and Irish trade qualifications match up against Canadian requirements across nine skill areas that are in high demand across Canada: heavy duty equipment technician, construction electrician, welder, carpenter, steamfitter/pipefitter, plumber, machinist, industrial mechanic (millwright) and powerline technician.
In addition, UK NARIC will develop an electronic guide, in consultation with provincial and territorial apprenticeship authorities, to help assess the alignment of British and Irish trade qualifications with Canadian training and certification requirements. This will assist Federal Skilled Trades Program applicants to better understand the requirements and expectations for tradespeople in the Canadian labour market.
