British Columbians will soon benefit from internationally trained professionals having an easier path to working in their chosen careers and filling crucial skills shortages as the International Credentials Recognition Act received royal assent on Nov. 8, 2023.

The Province is celebrating Apprenticeship Recognition month as a record number of people have registered as apprentices in B.C., closing a crucial skills gap, and benefiting the economy.

Internationally educated professionals, such as engineers, social workers, early childhood educators, paramedics, teachers and biologists, will be able to start working in B.C. quicker thanks to new legislation.

More than 300 British Columbians will benefit from an investment in a program that opens alternate routes to employment for people experiencing or at risk of homelessness.

Employers and workers in the construction sector will have better support as the Province launches the Workplace Innovation Fund, a program focused on labour supply and inclusion, along with new ways of improving productivity and employee retention.

In advance of legislation this fall, the Province is holding a fair credentials town hall with internationally trained professionals, key organizations and advocates to talk about progress made on international credential recognition in health care and the work being done to expand to all sectors of the economy.

Free mental-health supports are available 24 hours a day for B.C. post-secondary students who may be coping with anxiety, depression and other concerns.

The Province is releasing a new report that shows professional regulatory bodies made changes to improve credential-recognition processes for internationally trained professionals.

Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, and Kelli Paddon, Parliamentary Secretary for Gender Equity, have released the following joint statement on Consent Awareness Week:

People looking to enrol in post-secondary education, who are former youth in care, will benefit from an expansion of the Provincial Tuition Waiver Program, which has launched for the fall semester.