TORONTO – Jean Augustine has been nominated as Ontario’s first-ever Fairness Commissioner to work with regulatory bodies to ensure that  the credentials of internationally trained professionals are evaluated fairly and transparently, Ontario Citizenship and Immigration Minister Mike Colle announced today.

"The Fairness Commissioner will play a vital role in ensuring that Ontario’s regulatory bodies build fair and open registration processes so that internationally trained professionals have the opportunity to put their skills to work,” said Colle. ”Jean Augustine brings a depth of knowledge from the perspective of government, regulatory bodies and the immigrant experience that makes her the right person to take on this vitally important job.”

The Office of the Fairness Commissioner is a key component of the landmark Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, which became law on March 1, 2007. The Commissioner will be responsible for overseeing regular audits to ensure that the registration practices of regulated professions are transparent, objective, impartial and fair. The Commissioner will also submit an annual report to the Minister of Citizenship and Immigration >on the implementation and effectiveness of the Act.

"We applaud the Ontario government for establishing the position of the Fairness Commissioner and supportive legislation to help internationally trained professionals integrate into the workforce," said Mario Calla, Executive Director of COSTI Immigrant Services. “Jean Augustine has the experience and personal integrity to provide the leadership required in this first-ever role. We support her nomination."

"The appointment of a Fairness Commissioner, together with the reporting, certification and audit requirements set out in Bill 124, will play a vital role in establishing consistent standards for the processing of applications across all regulated professions. We welcome this nomination as another step in building confidence in the fairness of licensing practices." said David Hipgrave, President and CEO of Certified Management Accountants Ontario.

The appointment of Augustine is subject to review by the Standing Committee on Government Agencies.

The Fair Access To Regulated Professions Act, 2006, the first legislation of its kind in Canada, also established Global Experience Ontario, a one-stop information and resource centre helping people navigate complex systems when seeking to enter regulated professions, and promote internships and mentorships.

Breaking Down Barriers: Ontario’s Comprehensive Plan for Newcomers

The Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, is the cornerstone of the McGuinty government’s comprehensive plan, Breaking Down Barriers, to help newcomers to integrate successfully into Ontario’s economy and society. Other initiatives include:

• Negotiated the first-ever Canada-Ontario Immigration Agreement, which increases federal spending on language training and settlement services by an additional $920 million for newcomer services over five years;
• Invested over $53 million in more than 90 Bridge Training Programs, helping thousands of newcomers work in over 100 trades and professions;
• Launched the immigration web portal www.OntarioImmigration.ca, designed to support newcomers in Ontario and abroad, prior to arrival;
• Established the first Provincial Internship for the Internationally Trained. Administered by Career Bridge, newcomers with a minimum of three years international work experience are placed for six-month paid assignments within the Ontario Public Service;
• Created a Foreign Trained Professionals Loans program of up to $5,000 per person to cover assessment, training and exam costs, in partnership with the Maytree Foundation; and,
• Funded ‘All About Ontario,’ a new citizenship curriculum resource being added to language and citizenship classes, to help newcomers learn about Ontario’s history, geography, their roles and responsibilities, and to promote civic participation – from voting to volunteering;
• Leading the way in Canada with respect to the assessment and training of international medical graduates (IMGs). In 2006/07, Ontario invested $53 million in IMG – up from $16 million in 2003. In 2006, Ontario offered 200 IMG assessment and training positions, compared to just over 80 positions offered in the same year by the rest of the provinces combined.

Contacts:

Rick Byun, Minister's Office, (416) 325-3460
Karen Ras, Communications Branch, (416) 314-7012