OUR TAKE/YOUR TAKE

VOLUME 12, ISSUE 8 AUGUST 2015

Group Publishers Gautam Datt Sharma Sanjay Agnihotri

Editor Margaret Jetelina mjetelina@metroland.com

Senior Editor Baisakhi Roy broy@metroland.com

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our take

Plural pride The U.S. Supreme Court essentially legalized samesex marriage last month, and it was certainly about time; same-sex marriage has been legal in Canada since July 20, 2005, making this its 10-year anniversary.

That doesn’t necessarily mean that being a gay immigrant in Canada is easy. In our “Settlement” feature “Out in Canada” (see page 16), we interview two prominent gay immigrants who talk about the challenges and cultural taboos about being gay among Canada’s ethnocultural communities. But it’s certainly time for all Canadians — regardless of ethnic background or country of origin— to accept others for who they truly are.

Canada is a country based on freedom, equality and diversity — we’re talking advanced citizenship here. We’ve gone well beyond a state of multiculturalism to a place of pluralism, where all Canadians — whether they were born here or chose here — should be able to live a life of peace, acceptance and opportunity, regardless of their ethnicity, gender or sexual orientation.

Margaret Jetelina Editor, Canadian Immigrant

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your take

Alternatives needed for credentials crisis We hear the scenario too frequently: newcomers want to contribute the talent and skills that they have already been trained for in the field of work that they are passionate about.

Then reality sinks in. Their international credentials aren’t recognized and they can’t get a job in their field.

It happened to Denick who was from the Philippines, and who had been an architect in his home country and Saudi Arabia for more than 20 years. He says no one would even contact him for an interview once he immigrated to Canada.

Foreign credential recognition remains a major issue in Canada and it won’t be solved overnight.

We all agree that Canada must have consistent standards for skills and credentials in many professions. But there is also a serious economic need to give internationally trained individuals the opportunity to put their existing skills to work in a meaningful career.

In a 2011 report, the Federation of Labour Market Ministers agreed that newcomers must be able to find gainful employment in a timely manner if we want our national economy to grow in the years to come.

We know first-hand that lengthy programs for licensure simply aren’t an option for many new immigrants who need income to support their families. That’s why we all need a national conversation about the alternatives that can guide newcomers toward their passion for a career in Canada — and away from barriers. Training does not need to mean years of sitting through courses that newcomers have already completed. It might mean that a foreign-trained doctor opts to train and work in medical research. It might mean that a foreign-trained lawyer gains experience as a paralegal in a Canadian firm. The jobs are different, but they are fulfilling. Alternative careers can allow newcomers to use their specific skills and experiences to help power the Canadian economy. Denick, for example, took a short-term program at a career college that gave him Canadian drafting credentials. Although he is not working as an architect per se, he is now managing projects where he is designing specialized ceilings and walls. We need more of these success stories in Canada — and we need them now more than ever. Canada has a broad post-secondary education system, with both public and private schools. Together, we need to think about how we can better work together — along with government and employers — to encourage the alternatives and actually address this national issue. Serge Buy, CEO, National Association of Career Colleges (NACC), Toronto WANT TO SHARE YOUR THOUGHTS? EMAIL MJETELINA@METROLAND.COM.

Are you an IMMIGRANT looking for work?

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