INNOVATION January-February 2016

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Syrian refugees wait in Pearson International Airport upon arriving in Canada in December 2015. P hoto : © D ominic S antiago , via flickr and CC BY 2.0

APEGBC Prepares for Labour Supply Challenges, Refugee Intake British Columbia’s labour market faces supply challenges, with more than 31,000 job openings for engineers, geoscientists, technologists, and technicians projected by 2024. One of the ways that APEGBC has been working to address this is by identifying and removing barriers to the full participation of professionals educated outside of Canada in the engineering and geoscience professions in BC—among them, Syrian refugees.

Finding ways to fully integrate these professionals while remaining committed to upholding high standards of practice has become increasingly critical as, from January 2014 to June 2015 this year, APEGBC saw a 34 percent rise in applications for professional registration. With the targeted resettlement of some 25,000 Syrian refugees by the end of February 2016—1,900 of whom are expected in BC—APEGBC can expect an influx of prospective registration applicants among the new arrivals over the coming year. To ensure public safety in engineering and geoscience practice is protected, APEGBC is working to improve recognition of credentials for internationally trained professionals. The association uses the Applicant Self-Assessment Tool and remote registration interviews to evaluate eligibility of potential members for registration before they arrive in Canada. The association also has been considering how to address the unique challenges presented by refugee applicants unable to access their academic documentation or lacking other conventional means to prove their qualifications, or who may be unable to fund application for professional registration. In November 2015, APEGBC Council approved a motion that exempts designated refugees who apply for enrollment, registration or licence from payment of the application (examination of credentials) fee. Designated refugees meet the criteria of “refugee” under the 1951 Geneva Convention or the definition of a “person in need of protection” under the Immigration and Refugee Protection Act . Council will revisit the exemption practice in late-2016. Other support mechanisms already in place include APEGBC’s Mentoring Program, which offers assistance to applicants and APEGBC members. By working towards integrating qualified, skilled professionals of diverse backgrounds, APEGBC continues to support both public safety in the province and economic development.

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