The provincial government is trying to speed up the licensing process and reduce the number of hoops that foreign-trained professionals have to jump through.
Fine-tuning of the licensing and accreditation rules is aimed at addressing shortages of health care workers, engineers, social workers, K-12 teachers, early childhood educators, transport truck drivers and heavy equipment operators.
Immigration Minister Gerry Byrne says barriers were identified by people educated outside Newfoundland and Labrador during public consultations during the summer. For example, an internationally-educated teacher requires a work permit to teach. In most cases, to obtain a work permit, a license is required. However, a license is needed to get a job offer and, hence, a work permit.
The new legislation would give the minister the right to review the practices of regulatory bodies such as those that govern physicians and nurses, and to make recommendations and compliance orders in situations where a regulatory body has not complied with the act.