PROMPT Policy Roundtable Mobilizing Professions and

Trades

What are the challenges? What partnerships are needed?

Presented by Nikhat Rasheed

Public Policy Forum Toronto – March 19, 2006

Who & What is PROMPT?

PROMPT is the collective voice of Internationally Educated Persons (IEPs) represented by associations of immigrant professionals and community organizations.

Funded by Canadian Heritage, Multiculturalism Program, Voluntary Sector Initiative

Key Objectives To develop policy alternatives and

recommendations to increase access to professions and trades for IEPs such that they can maximize their contributions to Canada

To develop the concept of equity and eliminate systemic inequities and the assumed deficiency of IEPs

To promote the role of immigrants in creating innovation

Canada & Globalization Immigrants are part of the

transnational flow of people, ideas, production, investment and authority across borders in an already interconnected world

“..the protection of capital has outpaced governance for the protection of human well being..”, Boyce (2004)

Canada on low productivity path and facing labour market shortages of skills

Re-contextualizing Canada’s Globalization Vision

Canada’s transition into a truly globalized knowledge economy rests on its ability to maximise the knowledge contribution of its population

Immigrant participation in public policy is part of the solution to current integration issues

Assumption of Deficiency Challenge: Society values equivalency,

construes difference negatively, and lack of information

Leads to assumed inferiority of immigrant skills (e.g. employers survey 2004)

Leads to de-legitimization of work experience and lack of skills commensurate employment

Need to focus on Complementarity

Assumption of Deficiency

Partnerships: IEPs, Tri-level governments, Employers, HR personnel, Chambers etc.

Outcome: International skills and experience are an asset that makes Canada globally competitive

Public Policy Disconnects

Challenges: Federal – Provincial – Local public policy disconnects: Immigration vs. Settlement

Partnerships: Tri-level government, IEPs, Service Sector, IT

Outcome: Seamless continuum of settlement and integration

Policy & Program Design

Challenges: Policy and programming disconnected from the individuals that are to be served, thus design is ineffective e.g. bridge training

Partnerships: Tri-level government, IEPs

Outcome: Well designed, responsive policies and programs that address issues

Standards Challenges: “Standards” are inward looking

so what is acceptable and desirable in always “Canadian”

Standards need to evolve to higher levels so that Canada can remain competitive in the global knowledge economy

Partnerships: IEPs, Government, Chambers of Commerce, Other trade players

Outcomes: Create global standards that facilitate the movement of human capital

Regulation Challenge: Regulation is problematic and

not fulfilling its role to serve the ‘public interest’, needs to focus on not only equitable access but equality of outcomes

Process needs to begin with regulatory review of all licensed professions in Ontario

Mobility between provinces is problematic

Regulation

Partnerships: IEPs, Government, Regulatory bodies, Independent committees

Outcomes: Seamless process of regulation that focuses on equitable, fair and transparent processes and outcomes, allowing real public interested to be protected

Institutional Rigidity Combination of underlying

assumptions, poor public policy flows, policy and program design, regulation and standards leads to institutional rigidity

Institutions not flexible and responsive to changing societal, skills and experience mixes

Need to “think outside the box” and focus on “innovation”

Contact

Nikhat RasheedPROMPT Coordinator(416) 979 -8611 ext. 4310nikhat@cassa.on.ca

Thank you!