The Canadian government has announced its support to a new project to help better integrate foreign-trained workers into the Canadian workforce through an initiative with the environmental sector.

The Environmental Careers Organization of Canada (ECO Canada) will receive $1,294,865 in Foreign Credential Recognition Program funding for its Environmental Sector Immigration Strategy. 

“Our government is committed to helping newcomers succeed in Canada,” commented Diane Ablonczy, Minister of State (Seniors) and Member of Parliament for Calgary-Nose Hill. 

“Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, our government is taking action to improve foreign credential recognition so that newcomers can maximise their talents. We are proud to support ECO Canada’s Environmental Sector Immigration Strategy, because attracting the best international talent is vital to Canada’s long-term economic success.”

With the funding that ECO Canada will receive from the government, the organisation will create an assessment and job matching system that will help foreign-trained workers find jobs in the environmental sector, by placing skilled migrants in areas with the highest demand for their skills.

“ECO Canada is pleased to be part of this project as it aligns with our mandate of ensuring a sufficient supply of skilled professionals to address the labour requirements of the Canadian environmental sector,” commented Grant Trump, president and CEO of ECO Canada. 

“The bridging component of this project provides an effective vehicle to link the environment sector’s labour market demands with competent immigrants arriving in Canada with environmentally related education and experience.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan invested $50 million to address barriers to foreign credential recognition in Canada, which contributed to the development of the recently announced Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications.