Ontario Home Builder - Summer 2023

BARRIERS COMING DOWN FOR INTERNATIONALLY TRAINED WORKERS

Engineers trained outside of Canada no longer require Canadian experience to get licensed in Ontario. Professional Engineers Ontario, which represents 85,649 members, is the first professional regulatory body to remove the requirement.

Introduced in March as part of Working for Workers Act, 2021, the new law alleviates some of barriers that prevent internationally trained engineers from working in their professions in this province. Ontario was the first province in Canada to ban use of discriminatory Canadian Experience Requirements in occupations under the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Compulsory Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA).

Other regulatory bodies have until December 2, 2023 to remove Canadian work experience as a licensing requirement. Before the change, lack of Canadian work experience was a critical barrier for international engineers seeking work in Ontario.

“It’s an all-too-common experience: meeting a skilled newcomer trained as an engineer, doctor or accountant, working in a low-wage job that has nothing to do with their profession,” said Monte McNaughton, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “Our government has a plan to build a stronger Ontario that works for everyone, and we’re going to do it by unleashing the talent we have right here at home. I congratulate Professional Engineers Ontario for taking this historic step to support our mission.”

The amended law covers 36 nonhealth-related professions and trades, including architecture, plumbing and electricians.

Internationally trained engineers will still have to demonstrate their knowledge and competencies in technical communication, project management and professional accountability. They will still need 48 months of professional experience in engineering and to pass a national professional practice exam on ethics, professional practice, engineering, law and professional liability.