CBC News |
Immigrants could be one of the solutions to labour shortages in many fields across the province, particularly health care, says a Moncton group that works with immigrants.
“People who are highly skilled practitioners in their craft, can’t find a path to their own profession other than starting completely from scratch,” said Justin Ryan, public education co-ordinator with the Multicultural Association of Greater Moncton Area.
“There is a very clear gap.”
Routinely, Ryan said, he works alongside people who are “extraordinarily qualified.”
“I don’t mean they have a degree, I mean that they have a degree and 20 years experience as a leader in their field.”
Ammar Younis is one of them. He works for the multicultural association as a medical interpreter when other newcomers go for medical appointments.
Before he came to Canada six years ago, Younis practised as an anesthesiologist in Libya for about 20 years.
Younis said he was given a temporary medical licence in Canada from the College of Physicians and Surgeons of New Brunswick but hasn’t been able to find a job in his field.
“I have to find a position first and then ask for the [full] licence,” he said. “I applied in more than one place but I didn’t get a positive response.”
Now he’s calling on the people hiring to give those from outside Canada a chance to work in their fields.