The Yukon will receive up to $3.65 million in federal funding to help internationally educated health professionals be accredited more quickly, so they can work to their full capacity here.

“Choosing Canada to build a new life for one’s family should not come at the cost of being barred from practising in one’s field of expertise,” federal Small Business Minister Rechie Valdez told a news conference Tuesday morning at Whitehorse General Hospital.

The new, four-year-long foreign credential recognition project will complement the Yukon government’s Health Human Resources Strategy that was rolled out in December, particularly the goal of “streamlining licensing pathways.”

Key components of the new program include creating:

A “Foreign Credential Recognition Centre” to support both employers and skilled newcomers;

A Yukon territorial licensure regulatory process; and

A targeted nurse bridging program for participating jurisdictions.

Premier Ranj Pillai noted that there are many internationally educated health professionals in the Yukon who are not currently working in health care, despite their desire to serve their communities.

Goal is to reduce barriers

“Through the Foreign Credential Recognition Program, we will be better positioned to help those individuals reach their full potential in our labour force,” he said.

“We want to reduce the barriers for people so they can work in their field.”

That help will depend on each person’s circumstances, but could include mapping out the career path to be followed, mentoring, helping with the cost of study materials, exams and childcare, and offering increased access to practice in the field.

(Interestingly enough, Pillai shared that when his father immigrated to Canada, it was tough to requalify, but once he did, he worked for 51 years as a GP.)

There are about 40 Yukoners the government knows of who are interested in having their foreign health credentials recognized here – and there are likely more.

“We are meeting people where they are,” Pillai said. “If you’re a health care worker, let’s work out a pathway for you.”

Will help up to 150 people

Over the next four years, the new program will be able to support up to 150 individuals, whether they are newcomers or long-time Yukoners.

It may also help speed the way for health care professionals licensed in other provinces to qualify here.

The Yukon announcement comes on the heels of the federal government’s investment, announced in January, of $86 million to 15 organizations to help up to 6,600 immigrants receive proper recognition for their international credentials.

“We hope to enable the incredible talent already in Canada,” Valdez said, noting that half of the newcomers to Canada have a bachelor’s degree or higher.

Her mother, already a qualified RN in the Philippines and Africa, had to go back to school for several years to recertify in Canada when she immigrated.

“It was a significant sacrifice,” she noted.

The foreign credential recognition program will not only help immigrants living in Canada but also people who plan to immigrate.

For example, internationally trained midwives will be able to take their exams virtually, even before they arrive in Canada.

“Our goal is to strengthen our health and social service systems, filling crucial roles and ultimately enhancing the well-being of Yukoners,” said Tracy-Anne McPhee, the minister of Health and Social Services.

She noted that lessons learned from the health credential program could be applied to other professions in the future.

Pilot project only

Yukon MP Brendan Hanley was also on hand for the announcement.

“I’ve long advocated for solutions to labour shortages and workforce burnout in our health care system,” he said.

“As a physician myself, I know this investment will go a long way in leveraging the expertise of internationally educated professionals, while filling labour gaps in our hospitals, clinics and practices.

“The well-being of the health care workforce is so important to the well-being of Yukoners.”

Both Pillai and McPhee were careful to note this is a pilot project. It involved multiple federal and territorial departments, including health, economic development and small business.

The Yukon was looking into recruiting more nurses from India as part of its trade visit last year, Pillai noted. And there is a big community of Philippine-trained nurses in the Yukon.

The government also wants to encourage more high school-age Yukoners to study in a health care field.

There are already 22 RNs living in the Yukon who qualified in India, Pillai said. It isn’t possible to say how long it will take them to qualify in Canada, however, as it depends very much on each person’s circumstances.

“Some are doing mentorship for a year, to be followed by testing, but others may take longer,” he said.

Amendments to the Yukon Registered Nurses Profession Act, which complement the new credential program, were passed last fall.

They allow registered nurses, nurse practitioners from other places, recent graduates and internationally educated nurses to apply directly for work in the Yukon.

On his recent mission to India, Pillai signed a letter of intent. It lays the groundwork for collaboration with Kerala state government agencies that supports the recruitment of health care professionals by international governments.

As well, the premier met with officials from the Government School of Nursing to promote opportunities for health care professionals in the Yukon.

If an individual is looking for support for credential recognition, they should follow up with the licensing body for their profession.

More information can be found online at https://yukon.ca/en/professional-licensing.