Proposed Legislation banning Canadian work experience: Is it helpful or hurtful and how does it impact your company?
Summary
[2] Additionally, Michael Ford, Minister of Citizenship and Multiculturalism, noted, “Ontario is a global leader in welcoming newcomers from a wide array of backgrounds, cultures and faiths around the world. Talking to Canadian HR Reporter, Henry Chang noted that while everyone awaits the government to release the legislation officially, the idea behind the proposal may serve as a start to solving real life problems that immigrants face. And the problem is that the job market doesn’t absorb the immigrants that we bring in under these economic categories based on their educational, work experience in certain high-level fields.” [5] Chang also pointed out the fact that the legislation would be an expansion of a previous statutory amendment that banned requiring Canadian work experience for foreign-trained professionals that wished to be licensed in their field in the province. The intention here is to try to change the mindset of the employers to start to accept that good, viable candidates don’t necessarily need to have Canadian work experience. [11] As such, it’s key that employers keep up to date with changes in legislation so that they can comply accordingly, but perhaps even more importantly, ensure that they don’t miss out on the right person for the job.