Latest News

Winnipeg Free Press - ONLINE EDITION

Loans to put newcomers back into skilled professions

New pilot project will help pursuit of credentials

By: Carol Sanders

Posted: 10/13/2012 10:28 AM | Comments: 0

Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley at a North End news conference unveiling the Recognition Counts program on Friday. (KEN GIGLIOTTI / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS) Photo Store

In the next two years, 140 dentists and other skilled professionals working in ‘survival’ jobs such as cleaning and cab driving are movin’ on up.

A two-year pilot project called Recognition Counts is offering skilled, low-income newcomers loans of up to $10,000 with career and financial counselling to help them get their credentials recognized and put their skills back to work.

"We have to tap into this potential," federal Human Resources and Skills Development Minister Diane Finley said Friday at a press conference in the North End.

Her federal department is providing $1,237,442 in funding for the program.

"It’s good for communities," and it’s good for keeping Canada’s economy strong, she said.

"We still face a significant challenge with skills shortages," Finley said. Meanwhile, newcomers who have those skills don’t have the credentials to put them to work.

"Too many are doing jobs far below their ability," she said.

Since arriving in Canada in 2008, dentist Esam Beshay has been cleaning dental equipment to support his wife and children, ages three and nine. They’ve been scraping by while spending nearly $12,000 on exams he needs to pass to practise dentistry here.

"It’s difficult to support my family," said Beshay. "All of my savings are gone."

His next exam is in November and he needs time off work to prepare for it — and a Recognition Counts loan will allow him to do that.

"I feel better," said Beshay. "I can go back and practise dentistry here in Canada," he said, beaming.

The loan can also be used to buy tools of the trade, textbooks, pay tuition — whatever applicants need to get credentials recognition and working in their field, said Manitoba Immigration and Multiculturalism Minister Christine Melnick. "It’s very flexible." The province is providing $250,000 in administrative funding for the program.

SEED Winnipeg, the non-profit agency in the North End, is responsible for accepting and approving loan applicants referred by other agencies.

Assiniboine Credit Union is providing the loans to the newcomers without much of a Canadian credit history. While the feds are backing 80 per cent of each loan, the credit union is on the hook for the remaining 20 per cent if a recipient defaults.

That doesn’t worry Nigel Mohammed, the director of the credit union’s community financial centre, who expects people such as Beshay will succeed.

"We see people like him every day — talented and ready to work... the only thing standing in their way is access to financial resources," said Mohammed.

Beshay and others approved for a Recognition Counts loan pay interest only during the study period and don’t have to start repaying the principal until they’ve been working in the field for three months or six months after completing their training. They have five years to pay the money back at a rate of two per cent above prime.

"It’s fabulous," said Ximena Munoz, Manitoba’s fairness commissioner. She was appointed in 2009 to make sure credentials recognition by regulatory bodies is fair and transparent.

The education and financial counselling that go with the loan is important, said Munoz.

She’s seen internationally educated professionals borrow thousands for courses only to discover they’re not recognized and won’t count toward their credentials recognition.

carol.sanders@freepress.mb.ca

Factual inaccuracy? Something missing? Help improve our journalism.

Know about news? Share your story suggestions, photos and video.

Spelling error? Punctuation problem? Send us an email if you’ve found a typo.

More Latest News

Undock

You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.

Have Your Say

New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.

The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.