Canada should be recognizing the qualifications and talents of immigrants.
My family and I immigrated to Canada in March of 2019 due to the ongoing war in Syria. We were relieved to be away from the hardships of living through war, but realized our expectations of Canada didn’t match the reality we were entering.
Canada wasn’t the utopia we dreamed of.
When my father was looking for jobs, he realized his engineering degree from the University of Aleppo wasn’t a valid qualification in Canada, despite his lifelong dedication to the field.
Unfortunately, his degree isn’t the only one that isn’t recognized.
Ontario welcomed the highest number of immigrants of any province in Canada between July 1, 2021, and June 30, 2022, totalling 227,235 newcomers.
A 2021 census revealed 23 per cent of Ontario’s population was comprised of immigrants or permanent residents, the highest percentage since 1921 and suring the previous record of 22.3 per cent.
Approximately 59.4 per cent of working-age immigrants who arrive in Canada hold a bachelor’s degree or higher. More than 25 per cent of those with foreign degrees are overqualified for the jobs they have here, which require a high school diploma at most.
In Ontario, workers born outside of Canada are far more likely than Canadian-born workers to work in manufacturing, wholesale trade, and transportation and warehousing.
The overqualification rate—the extent to which workers’ skills exceed their responsibilities—is twice as high for immigrant workers than it is for Canadian-born or Canadian-educated degree holders.
Statistics Canada suggests Canada is leaving talent on the table by failing to recognize the prior work and qualifications of immigrants.
The 40th session of the United Nations Educational Scientific and Cultural (UNESCO) General Conference adopted the Global Convention on the Recognition of Qualifications in Higher Education. This convention creates a framework for non-discriminatory recognition of international higher education qualifications. It would provide access to higher education and avenues for further study and employment.
Another possible model for Canada to look into is the UNESCO Qualifications port, which provides a recognized and accessible certification of prior learning and qualifications. This facilitates shorter pathways to higher education and careers for immigrants.
Just like any person who has achieved expertise in a field, my father deserves the chance to pursue a career in the field he earned his degree in.
Canada must establish a system which recognizes all degrees and qualifications—not only to give newcomers a fair chance in the job market, but to feel valued and respected in their new home.
Meghrig is a second-year philosophy student and one of The Journal’s Assistant News Editors.
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