Conservatives Shift Blame for Failure on Foreign Credentials File 

Ottawa – Blaming Canada’s foreign credential problems on provincially-regulated agencies is yet another example of the Conservatives’ obsession with diverting attention away from its own failures, Liberal MPs Ruby Dhalla and Omar Alghabra said today. 

“Jason Kenney’s recent comments about provincially regulated agencies ‘keeping the doors shut’ to immigrants shows yet again that the Conservatives are more intent on laying blame than working towards solutions,” said Mr. Alghabra. “The regulating agencies have to be included as part of the solution, not blamed as the source of the problem.” 

“Hiding behind jurisdiction with respect to foreign credentials is nothing but a shameless ploy to shift blame from the Conservative government’s own failure on this file,” added Ms. Dhalla.  

On Sunday, Conservative Secretary of State for Multiculturalism Jason Kenney told policy-makers at a Toronto conference that his government can’t do anything about the problem of foreign credential recognition until regulatory bodies “break down their barriers” for new Canadians. 

Ms. Dhalla said that although provincial governments regulate credentials through regulatory bodies, the federal government needs to play a leading role in ensuring immigrants are equipped to overcome barriers to their successful integration in the labour market. 

“Mr. Kenney’s failure to provide any leadership on this file not only disregards the real hardships faced by foreign-trained workers, but the tremendous cost to the Canadian economy,” said Ms. Dhalla. 

The only promise the Conservatives made on foreign credentials was to create the Canadian Agency for Assessment and Recognition of Credentials.   

“A year later, we have yet to hear about any progress related to this agency,” said Mr. Alghabra. “In fact, government documents show that the $18 million allocated over two years to the creation of this agency has now been stretched out over three years.” 

“The Conservatives misled Canadians during the last campaign when they promised to find a quick solution, exploiting the challenges many new Canadians face for the sake of political expediency. There are thousands of immigrants who have much to give to this country. They are essential to the future success of our economy. And they deserve to work in the professions to which they have devoted their lives,” he said. 

“For the Conservative government to continue to sit and do nothing while pointing fingers at others is the height of irresponsibility. It’s time for action,” said Ms. Dhalla.