The shortage of skilled labour in Canada’s healthcare and construction sectors has been top of mind for years, and recent developments are pushing for long-awaited solutions. In response to the persistent gap, the federal government announced up to $52 million in new investments through the Foreign Credential Recognition (FCR) Program, with funding distributed among 16 projects. These initiatives aim to streamline credential recognition for internationally trained professionals and fast-track their integration into the Canadian labour market.
It’s not just about hiring more workers—it’s about equipping skilled newcomers with what they need to succeed, reducing redundancy in assessments, and ensuring that qualified professionals aren’t lost in a maze of red tape. From paramedics to welders, from psychiatric nurses to social workers, these projects signal a coordinated shift toward a more efficient, inclusive, and equitable labour force.
Fast-Tracking Healthcare Professionals into the System
Healthcare remains the most urgent area of need. One of the most notable allocations went to McMaster University, receiving up to $4.09 million to help 500 newly licensed Internationally Educated Nurses (IENs) integrate into the workforce across multiple provinces. The university will also create new training and information-sharing tools to support both newcomers and employers. This builds on a previous initiative that saw 300 IENs find meaningful employment in Ontario.
Another large-scale project comes from Halton Multicultural Council, which will guide 600 internationally educated healthcare professionals, including 180 placements, through career mentorship, employment assistance, and collaboration with employers. This project was allocated $2.83 million.
The Government of New Brunswick took a broader approach with a $10 million project targeting 460 healthcare professionals, 100 interim-certified teachers, and 1,000 skilled trades workers, emphasizing support across multiple regulated professions to reduce the backlog and barriers.
In addition, Registered Psychiatric Nurses Regulators of Canada received over $1.28 million to create psychiatric nursing pathways in Atlantic Canada. This follows a feasibility study from 2021–2023 and responds directly to labour shortages in mental health care.
Projects also targeted other health professionals such as paramedics, with the Canadian Organization of Paramedic Regulators receiving $670,072. Their initiative aims to cut the credential assessment time in half for internationally trained paramedics, particularly French-speaking applicants, by aligning with a new Canadian competency framework and creating pre-approved expedited pathways.
To support internationally educated medical radiography technologists, the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT) is developing Western Canada’s first integration program. With $993,000 in funding, BCIT aims to graduate 24 IE-MRTs annually, fully certified and ready to meet national qualification standards.
Bridging Skilled Trades and Construction Gaps
The demand for construction workers—especially in residential housing and infrastructure—has pushed the government to focus heavily on tradespeople. ECO Canada secured the largest single funding amount, $10 million, to help 300 skilled newcomers (including engineers, HVAC technicians, and electricians) secure green jobs. These roles are part of Canada’s housing strategy and environmental goals, with support including wage subsidies, work placements, and diversity-focused employer training.
Similarly, Newcomer Women’s Services Toronto will support 1,000 newcomer women over five years with work placements, training, and individualized plans in construction, with a special emphasis on those with technical or engineering backgrounds. They too received $10 million.
Centre for Skills is supporting 400 newcomers in Ontario, offering credential evaluation, case-managed employment services, and trades-specific language training, funded at $2.25 million.
Smaller but focused initiatives, such as Construction Association of PEI, received $1.28 million to help 60 skilled newcomers transition through training, work placements, and Red Seal certification.
The Canadian Welding Bureau is targeting inclusivity in welding through specialized training for 100 participants, prioritizing youth, women, persons with disabilities, and racialized individuals. With $901,072 in funding, this project will work in partnership with safety and employment organizations to offer upskilling, job placement, and certification.
The Government of Alberta, with $2.62 million, is addressing construction labour shortages by partnering with national apprenticeship authorities to streamline credential recognition for up to eight Red Seal trades, such as carpenters, electricians, millwrights, and roofers. Their approach will develop province-wide standards, making it easier for newcomers to qualify in regulated trades.
Strengthening Regulatory Bodies and Modernizing Credential Systems
Improving regulatory systems is critical to ensuring newcomers aren’t caught in a web of outdated rules. The Association of Canadian Occupational Therapy Regulatory Organizations (ACOTRO) received $3.33 million to overhaul its credential assessment system for international occupational therapists. A new registration portal, revised testing tools, and educational benchmarks will help reduce credential evaluation time and pre-assess candidates before they even arrive in Canada.
Likewise, Canadian Association of Social Workers (CASW) is using its $281,892 to update its assessment services, build an immigration hub, and offer online resources for internationally educated social workers navigating the recognition process.
The Regulatory Organizations of Architecture in Canada (ROAC) will revamp the Broadly Experienced Foreign Architect (BEFA) program using $458,000, eliminating the six-month Canadian experience requirement and reducing licensing time from five years to just one. This includes boot camps and a restructured interview process for architects with international experience.
Finally, the Construction Foundation of BC is leading a $700,000 initiative to create three certification pathways—direct, upskilling, and alternative—for 100 trades-experienced newcomers, combined with tailored coaching and trades-related language programs. The framework is designed to be replicable across Canada.
