320 Service Canada centers offer foreign credential referrals

As of 30 November 2007, 320 Service Canada centers across Canada will start offering in-person credentials referral services for migrants who were trained internationally, according to Immigration Minister Diane Finley.

The services, part of the Canadian government's Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO), will help internationally trained immigrants who want to work in Canada to get the information they need to have their credentials assessed and recognized more quickly.

"When we first launched the FCRO in May we promised to make foreign credential referral services available in 320 Service Canada outlets before the end of the year and with today's announcement we have kept that promise," Finley said during an announcement at the Service Centre in Simcoe, Ontario.

The government has dealt with criticism in the past for problems migrants face in having thier credentials recognized by employers. Many highly skilled migrants were finding themselves working in low-skilled jobs once they made the move to Canada.

"Internationally trained individuals can now walk into Service Canada centres across the country and receive in-person help on how to get their credentials assessed and recognized. Newcomers want to contribute to our country by working in the fields for which they've been trained, and we want to help them do that," Finley said.