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Transcript: The Honourable Diane Finley
Minister of Citizenship and Immigration

Since becoming a Member of Parliament, and certainly since becoming Minister of Citizenship and Immigration, one of stories that I hear most often is the story of the newcomer to Canada, who came with skills and credentials, often years before, and who has had to struggle ever since to get a job in his or her chosen field, or—more to the point—struggle to support the family. 

You know, it is always difficult to hear these stories. People come here hoping to build a better life for themselves and their families. They come here hoping to work in their field, to use their skills and practice the professions in which they are trained and to do the work that they love to do.

We need skilled newcomers and we need skilled newcomers to work in their chosen field.

Time and again, newcomers told us that if they had only had access to the proper information while they were waiting to come to Canada, they would have used that time to upgrade their skills to better their chances of becoming accredited.

So I’m very pleased to be here today to announce the first phase of an important initiative that will help newcomers—those trained in another country—to succeed with their new lives in Canada.

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office is an important step towards this goal and I will continue to work with you and with all our partners to help foreign trained workers succeed in Canada.

Thank you.  Merci.