London, March 14, 2014 —

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).

Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney was on hand in London, England, to witness the signing of an agreement between the Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the United Kingdom’s National Recognition Information Centre (UK NARIC).

CIC is providing support to the ACCC to conduct the study and UK NARIC will act as a sub-contractor. The project is a component of the CIC-funded Canadian Immigrant Integration Program, which provides newcomers with labour market information and to help 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.

More specifically, 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.

Quick facts

• The Government of Canada is building an immigration system that is focused on economic growth.
• The Federal Skilled Trades Program (FSTP) is designed to address serious labour shortages.
• CIC is accepting a maximum of 3,000 applications each year in the FSTP.

Quote

“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.”

—Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney on behalf of Canada’s Citizenship and Immigration Minister Chris Alexander