McGuinty Government Breaking Down Barriers For Internationally Trained Nurses

     Matching Internationally Trained Nurses With Ontario's Healthcare Needs

     TORONTO, May 10 /CNW/ - The McGuinty government is breaking down barriers

for internationally trained nurses to help meet Ontario's healthcare needs,

Minister of Citizenship and Immigration Mike Colle announced today.

     "Ontario attracts talented nurses from around the world," said Colle.

"These innovative programs will provide the training, support and experience

they need to work in their field of expertise sooner."

     $2.9 million in new funding is being invested in two new bridging

programs, which are designed to provide newcomers with the language training,

help preparing for licensure, and work experience they need to work in

regulated trades and professions.

     "By helping internationally trained health professionals apply their

skills in our province, we are increasing access to healthcare services for

all Ontarians," said Health and Long-Term Care Minister George Smitherman.

     The Centre for Internationally Educated Nurses (CARE) will receive

$2,104,265 to expand its successful bridging programs for internationally

educated nurses, including exam preparation courses, individual feedback and

tutoring, occupation-specific language training, and clinical workplace

experience through health agencies in Ontario. In partnership with the College

of Nurses of Ontario, St. Peter's Hospital in Hamilton, and George Brown

College in Toronto, CARE will expand these bridging programs throughout the

GTA and Hamilton, as well as to under-serviced communities such as Niagara and

Waterloo.

     York University will receive $800,000 to create and pilot test assessment

tools, measures, and policies based on Prior Learning Assessment Recognition

to ensure a fairer registration process and evaluation of international

equivalency for foreign-trained nurses.

     "Expanding our programs is another step to help us provide more

opportunities to internationally trained nurses who want to work in our health

care system," said Amy Go, Chair of the Board of Directors of the Centre for

Internationally Educated Nurses.

     "This project will help evaluate qualifications of internationally

educated nurses in a fair and open way and identify both gaps and strengths in

their knowledge, skill and judgment," says Dr. Lesley Beagrie, Director of the

School of Nursing at York University.

     Since 2003, the McGuinty government has invested over $53 million in 90

bridging projects to assist newcomers to find work in their field more

quickly.

     Breaking Down Barriers for Newcomers

     ------------------------------------

     Today's announcement is just one more example of how, working together,

Ontarians have achieved results in helping to break down barriers for

newcomers. Other initiatives include:

     -   Negotiating the first-ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement,

         which provides an additional $920 million of federal funds for

         newcomer services over five years;

     -   The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, which became law

         in March 2007. The Act will ensure a fair, open and transparent

         process for obtaining registration and licensing in regulated

         professions for internationally trained individuals.

     -   Creating Global Experience Ontario, an Access and Resource Centre for

         the internationally trained.

     -   Establishing the first-ever Office of the Fairness Commissioner which

         is responsible for assessing registration and licensing practices.

     -   Increasing opportunities for International Medical Graduates (IMGs)

         from 90 to 200 annually, including 218 new IMGs in training and

         assessment positions last year.

     -   Establishing the first provincial Internship for the Internationally

         Trained. Administered by Career Bridge, newcomers with a minimum of

         three years international work experience will be placed for six-

         month paid assignments within the Ontario Public Service and Crown

         Agencies.

     -   Creating a Foreign Trained Professionals Loans Program providing up

         to $12,000 per person to cover assessment, training and exam costs.

     -   Launching an immigration web portal, www.OntarioImmigration.ca, to

         support newcomers both in Ontario and abroad, prior to arrival.

     "By eliminating barriers that prevent internationally trained people from

working in their field, we are building the highly skilled work force Ontario

needs and securing our province's future," Colle said.