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Ottawa spending $86 million to boost recognition of foreign credentials for health-care workers

The federal government has announced about $86 million in funding for 15 projects across Canada under the Foreign Credentials Recognition Program to facilitate the integration of foreign-trained health-care professionals.

One of the notable recipients is Calgary’s Bow Valley College, which has been granted nearly $9.5 million for its IEHP Pathway to Employment Program (IEHP-PEP). This pilot project, in collaboration with the Calgary Region Immigrant Employment Council (CRIEC), seeks to provide a smoother transition for IEHP nurses through credential recognition and comprehensive support services.

Similarly, the Young Women’s Christian Association (YWCA) has been awarded nearly $7.8 million for its Health Connect project. This initiative is designed to enhance the foreign credential recognition assessment capacity, focusing on improving labour market integration for female IEHPs and skilled refugees, including those lacking documentation of their academic credentials.

The Government of Nova Scotia is also receiving $10 million to expand its NICHE Program. This project will focus on streamlining pathways to licensure and employment for IEHPs in five priority professional areas, including Licensed Practical Nurses and Medical Laboratory Technologists.

Other recipients include:

• BC College of Nurses and Midwives ($9.9 million)
• Canadian Pharmacists Association ($5.2 million)
• Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry ($8.3 million)
• Alberta Health Services ($10 million)
• Welland Heritage Council and Multicultural Centre ($563,000)
• College of Dental Technologists of Ontario ($611,732)
• Canadian Association of Medical Radiation Technologists ($2.7 million)
• Progress Career Planning Institute ($1.5 million)
• Government of Newfoundland and Labrador ($5.1 million)
• Progressive Inter – Cultural Community Services Society ($4.8 million)
• Alberta International Medical Graduates Association ($1.4 million)
• Achev ($7.5 million.)