The Leader of Canada’s New Democratic Party (NDP), Jon Layton, has outlined plans for the creation of an agency that will be responsible for recognising the professional credentials of foreign workers who chose to make Canada their home.

The NDP has put forward its plans in an effort to combat the issue of much-needed professional migrants arriving in Canada but struggling to find work as their levels of qualification and expertise are not being recognised by local employers. The problem is that although immigrants hoping to live in live in Canada are ranked by a points system that takes into account their skills and professional background, those skills go unrecognized when they arrive.

Mr. Layton commented: “The tragic fact is that we lure people to come here, we give them points for their experience, and their professional credentials, they tell their families that Canada wants us as doctors, accountants, engineers, experts ... but when they come here the doors are simply closed.”

As well as establishing an agency for the recognition of degrees and qualifications, the NDP has also outlined plans to set up websites to detail accreditation processes as well as increased training and guidance programs for migrants. However, according to Diane Finley, a similar plan is already being implemented under the current Conservative government.