Province, feds invest $10M to reduce barriers for international tradespeople

Province, feds invest $10M to reduce barriers for international tradespeople

The New Brunswick government says it has secured $9.98 million from the federal government to reduce barriers associated with recognition and integration of tradespeople who are trained internationally.

Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour (PETL) Minister Jean-Claude D’Amours said in a release the recognition is important for labour mobility.

“This is a wonderful place to work, and this support from the federal government will help us help skilled individuals who want to work here,” he said.

The funding comes from the Foreign Credential Recognition Program and will be distributed by PETL.

It will assist with:

  • Wage subsidies for 100 internationally educated nurses.
  • Teacher placements.
  • Enhancements of the apprenticeship management system.
  • Bridging programs supporting internationally trained teachers as they compete in the licensing process.
  • Employer engagement for engineers and geoscientists: networking events, industry liaisons and placement coordination.

“Meeting Canada’s workforce [requires] more than attracting talent; it requires creating pathways for people to fully contribute their skills and expertise,” Vimy MP Annie Koutrakis, parliamentary secretary to the federal minister of jobs and families, said in the release. “This investment will help improve credential recognition processes and strengthen workforce participation, supporting economic growth and prosperity in New Brunswick and across Canada.”

Koutrakis made the annoouncement on behalf of Jobs and Families Minister Patty Hajdu, the release said.

John-Ryan Morrison with the Construction Association of New Brunswick said demand for skilled workers is at an all-time high.

“We are pleased to see the federal government is supporting the province in helping more skilled workers build their careers in New Brunswick while strengthening the workforce needed to build our province,” he said in the release.

Author

  • Nathalie Sturgeon, Local Journalism Initiative, The Courier.

    The Local Journalism Initiative, funded by the Government of Canada, aims to provide journalism to underserved communities. She joined the team in August 2024 and was formerly a digital broadcast journalist with Global News in New Brunswick. She has past experience as the editor of the Kings County Record in Sussex, N.B.

    She is from White Rapids, New Brunswick, just outside of Miramichi. She has a Bachelor of Arts Degree in journalism from St. Thomas University in Fredericton.

    Nathalie is a strong supporter of local and community news -- and hopes to tell the most important stories for the people of Charlotte County and beyond.

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