Madam Speaker: The hour being 5 p.m., time for Private Members' Business.
Mr. Conrad Santos (Broadway): Madam Speaker, I move, seconded by the honourable member for Wellington (Ms. Barrett), that this resolution on Professional and Technical Accreditation
"WHEREAS human beings, considered as any country's most important resource, are not merely a material factor of production, but are instrumental to achieving non-tangible values of fairness, freedom and individual self-actualization; and
"WHEREAS recent immigrants to Canada and to Manitoba tend to possess higher than average levels of education and skills that contribute to the enrichment of Canadian diversity essential to securing a position of competiveness in a global economy; and
"WHEREAS there are some new Canadians who settled in Manitoba, and elsewhere in Canada, who brought with them professional and technical education, skills and training which they are unable to use in Manitoba or elsewhere in Canada; and
"WHEREAS there are institutionalized social structures in Manitoba and in Canada of vested self-interested and self-governing groups of professional and technical persons who collectively are exercising almost absolute autonomy to the extent that the federal, provincial and municipal levels of government have practically abdicated the inherent public regulatory power of the Crown over the education, training, internship, admission, disciplining and other related processes connected with the creation, empowerment and operations of professional and technical associations, societies and organizations; and
"WHEREAS the utilization of the professional and technical education, skills and training of new Canadians would, without many social costs, be immediately beneficial to Canada in general and to the Province of Manitoba in particular.
"THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Legislative Assembly of Manitoba urge the Provincial Government to consider implementing an enlightened policy of formal recognition and accreditation in meritorious cases of the professional and technical education, skills and training brought into Canada by new Canadians; and
"BE IT FURTHER RESOLVED that this Assembly ask the Provincial Government to consider holding public hearings to elicit the opinions and views of Manitobans, including new Canadians, on the desirability of forming formal Governmental Accreditation and Licensing Boards for each of the new self-governing professional and technical associations, societies and organizations; the Boards of which should have membership drawn from the respective and related professional and technical groupings, the Provincial Government, and lay members of the general public to ensure that members of such Boards will be trustees of the general public interest of all, instead of being privileged guardians of vested, self-governing groups."
Motion presented.
Mr. Santos: Madam Speaker, I wish to speak on three ideas: first, that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights; second, there now exists artificial rules, often institutionalized, that destroy equality of opportunity and rights, resulting in unfair treatment and oppression of some disadvantaged groups in society; and third, it is the moral duty on the part of every group, all groups, to join together and restore the opportunity and rights of any group receiving unjust treatment, to protect and secure the equality of opportunity and rights of all groups and all human beings.
The first statement came from the Universal Declaration of Human Rights to which Canada is a signatory. It states that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Tout le monde est né libre et égal en dignité et droits.
The Constitution Act of Canada in Section 6(2) says: "Every citizen of Canada and every person who has the status of permanent resident in Canada has the right . . . (b) to pursue the gaining of a livelihood in any province" subject to certain limitations. To say that all human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights is not to say that all persons are or can be equal in everything, in ability, in merit or in possessions, because different talents, different resourcefulness, different labour, virtue, and even chance are continually creating differences among people.
To say that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights means that everyone shall have liberty without handicap, without hindrance, to become what such person can possibly become. To say that all human beings are free and equal in dignity and rights means that there shall be no deprivation, there shall be no barrier that will be imposed upon them by any group acting in the name of society to prevent such persons of the minority group from realizing and developing the best potential among their members.
The ideal of equality of all human beings may take the form of legal equality, may take the form of political equality, social equality, or even economic equality. Legal equality means equal treatment before the law. Political equality means equal treatment in participation in government. Social equality means equal treatment in participation in social affairs of life. Economic activity means equal treatment in participation in the economic affairs of life, including the earnings of one's livelihood. All types of equality imply equality of treatment and equality of opportunity.
The second proposition states that there now exists artificial rules in our province that destroy that equality of opportunity and rights, resulting in unfair and unjust treatment, resulting in oppression of some disadvantaged group by some self-interested and privileged group in society. What would be an example of such self-interested and privileged group in Manitoba or elsewhere? For a clear example we point to the self-governing, self-regulating professional associations, including the legal associations, medical associations, whatever associations of a professional nature. What would be an example of an artificial rule that destroys equality of opportunity? A good example will be the rule that, unless you are a graduate of an accredited Canadian medical or legal school, you cannot even qualify to take any examination to be admitted to any practice in any of those societies.
I have, for example--is there an example of why that destroys equality of opportunity? I know that there is a rule that says only medical doctors can administer anesthesia in hospitals in Manitoba. But in the United States there are schools of anesthesia and there are nurses who spend two years specializing in anesthesia. They are nurse anesthetists; they are specialists. They are certified nurse anesthetists. They come to Canada, they come here, and they want to exercise their specialty, their profession. They cannot. They are not medical doctors; they are excluded by the rules. Yet these are very technically qualified, competent people. You see that deprives them the opportunity to exercise their profession, their means of livelihood, all because of this artificial rule.
Who designed the rule? The medical doctors. For whose benefit? For the medical doctors. Who enforced the rule? The medical doctors. Who controls entrance in all the medical schools? The medical doctors. All of these are clear that these are a special privileged group in our society excluding fellow human beings from earning their livelihood and their profession despite the constitutional guarantee that every citizen or resident in Canada can pursue their means of livelihood anywhere in Canada. That is effectively destroyed.
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The third proposition states that it is the moral duty on the part of us, every one of us, no matter what group we are, to join and restore the opportunity and rights of any group receiving unjust treatment; otherwise we cannot protect the ideal of equality of opportunity and the rights of all groups and all human beings. Whatever justification, whatever advantages that may have arisen in the past out of the perpetuation of this specially favoured and highly privileged group, it is increasingly evident now that no rationalization, no arguments can reasonably be said to be invoked to support this unequal opportunity if there is to be real equality of opportunity among all Canadians. This is a violation of the basic rights of human beings.
This is a violation being done not by government but by self-governing groups who are exercising powers of government. That is abdication of governmental responsibility. We should acknowledge that the rights of all groups are assured only by the fact that every group enjoys equal right of opportunity in equal measure in our society. All groups need to know that the rights of all are endangered when the rights of any one group are taken away. After one group is destroyed or frustrated, another group logically becomes the next victim of these exclusionary tendencies. There will be no harmony, there will be no peace in society the moment any group perceives that they are being deprived of their basic equality-of-opportunity rights.
Every group, jealous of its rights and prerogatives, should join with other groups and endeavour to restore the rights of any group receiving unjust treatment, because in doing so justice is served and all groups are safeguarding themselves from similar arbitrariness and tyranny at some future time.
We are now at the crossroads of a transition in time. We cannot enter into the new century closing our eyes to this obvious inequity and injustice of excluding and not utilizing the professional and technical education, skills and training of new Canadians for the narrow and vested economic self-interest of those who at present are in control of education, training, internship and admission into the various professions associated with social prestige, status and economic benefits.
We must understand one another and learn to work together by combatting all practices, whether institutionalized or not, that degrade and divide us, that set us up, one group against another. We must cultivate respect for the dignity of each individual, that each one may be able to realize that human beings are similar and equal in more ways than they are different regardless of culture, language or racial origin. We must appreciate that fairness, justice, tolerance, respect for one another are vital if we are to live together in harmony and peace in this new age to come.
As the economist Kenneth J. Arrow has stated, the basic element of the good society is the centrality of others. It has two aspects, concern for others and respect for others. Concern without respect is at best paternalism and can lead to tyranny. Respect without concern is the frozen world of extreme individualism, a denial of the intrinsically social nature of humanity.
Let me say that no matter how you justify it, if any group in society is in control of a vital function and acting like a government when it is not a government and has this capacity to make rules that exclude other citizens for their own benefit and interest, it results in discriminatory and unjust treatment that cannot be justified even under the Constitution or any other law or even under the universal declaration of human rights, because these are so artificial, so clear that they are self-serving kinds of rules. Unless you are admitted to their group, you cannot exercise any of these professions that have the benefit and enjoyment of social respect and prestige and economic income, but they are all equally entitled to such opportunity if by reason of their training, their education, their skills, they have laboured so much.
Many people from other places that came to Canada have already the skills and training and specialty and, yet, they are unable to exercise this because of the self-serving rules of the self-governing professional societies in this province and many other provinces in Canada. This is discrimination on the basis of excluding them and not having them realize their full potential as professional human beings who already spent a lot of their time and life and training in order to develop these knowledge and skills and, yet, they are unable to exercise these. This is discrimination in a so-called democratic society where we say equality of all opportunity.
Where is that equality when you cannot even qualify to take the examination to prove yourself that you are capable of doing an essential basic function? And why should any one group monopolize this professional opportunity among themselves, excluding others because they came from outside and cannot by logic be graduates of Canadian accredited schools that they run themselves? Is this not discrimination? You tell me.
In conclusion, let me restate the three basic propositions. All human beings are born free and equal in dignity and rights. Second, there are rules so artificial that exist now and are often institutionalized that destroy that equality of rights and opportunity, resulting in unfair and unjust treatment and oppression of some disadvantaged group by some self-interested and privileged group in society, and it is the moral duty on the part of all of us, particularly in a Legislature like this, that have the ultimate authority to rectify this inequity and injustice, to do something about it, or else we will be shirking our responsibility to provide the environment of equal opportunity and rights to all the citizens of this province. Thank you, Madam Speaker.
Hon. Rosemary Vodrey (Minister of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship): Madam Speaker, I am very pleased to speak about this very serious issue on behalf of Manitobans, the recognition of international credentials in our province.
First of all, let me say that our province owes much of its growth and its prosperity to the contributions made by immigrants throughout our proud history in our province. The skills, the knowledge, and the expertise that newcomers bring to their new homeland have a significant impact on our economy, on our communities, and on the quality of our lives in general. Manitoba has greatly been enriched by the cultural, social, and economic contributions that generations of new immigrants have really so generously made.
In recognition of the importance of immigration to the continued growth and expansion of our province, our government has actively promoted the advantages of Manitoba as a prime destination for immigrants. Just to remind all members, in 1996, the Canada-Manitoba immigration agreement was signed, and the immigration agreement does provide for a much more active role for our province in the development of policies and programs which impact on the recruitment and the selection of newcomers. I believe that this agreement will be an important tool in addressing our labour market priorities while maintaining our long-standing commitment to the reunification of families and the protection for the world's displaced and persecuted peoples.
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We have recognized the importance of assisting immigrants to settle and to integrate into our communities. We have programs such as adult language training, orientation and information sessions as well as employment counselling. They have been funded and delivered both by the provincial governments and the federal government to facilitate the transition of life in Canada. It is well known that the career aspirations and the professional success of a growing number of immigrants and Canadians with credentials attained outside of Canada are very closely linked to the assessment, the recognition and validation of their studies and their work experience undertaken abroad.
The assessment of educational and occupational credentials is an essential first step for individuals seeking recognition of their qualifications for purposes of entry into the labour market or the pursuit of ongoing post-secondary education. The increasing mobility of our labour force and the need to make educational qualifications portable across provincial and international borders are factors contributing to a widespread concern about procedures used for assessment. In Canada, there is no central national agency responsible for credentials assessment. Education is a matter which falls within provincial jurisdiction; however, post-secondary institutions, such as universities and community colleges, are given full autonomy with respect to their admission criteria. Provincial governments are responsible for establishing the legislative framework which regulates many professions and trades through various occupational acts and regulations.
The professional and occupational associations are given authority and the responsibility to establish minimum licensing and entry requirements. They also are responsible for codes of conduct, for disciplinary measures to deal with situations when these codes are breached. In determining licensing and certification requirements, professional and occupational associations are required to ensure that the process is open, transparent and nondiscriminatory. The overall purpose of occupational regulations are in fact to protect the public from harm resulting from improper performance of a related service.
For some professions, such as engineers and physicians, national associations have a mandate to assess credentials, although it is the provincial licensing bodies which retain the right to determine licensing and certification requirements. This is an area of great complexity and diversity of policy and practice in the areas of credential assessment and recognition, and it has generated a number of attempts to clarify the process and to determine how access to education, access to professions and trades, can be improved. I think that is one of the important issues which we are talking about today. In some provinces governments have established credentials assessment services, but others are still exploring the needs in this area.
I am very happy in Manitoba to say that a working group was established very early when we took office. In December 1989, this working group was established and it was to look specifically at the issues of recognition of immigrant credentials and also experience. The member, in his resolution, refers to a need for consultation, and I would like to reassure him that way back, almost 10 years ago, in fact, there was a broad spectrum of consultation with stakeholders to look at the current process which we have in place. The working group distributed sets of questionnaires to professional and trade associations, licensing and registering bodies, multicultural, ethnocultural organizations, educational institutions, individuals, and Manitobans. The surveys were in fact very insightful in gathering a broad cross-section of information from the perspective of various individuals affected by this issue.
The findings that were developed from the report further indicated that the issue of foreign credential recognition requires a co-ordinated approach to ensure that standards are maintained and that individuals who meet acceptable standards are in fact given the opportunity to work in their field of education or professional or technical training and expertise.
Madam Speaker, a number of initiatives are underway in Manitoba at the moment to assist with the issue of recognition of credentials. The first is in fact the Credentials Recognition Program, which assists qualified professional or technically trained immigrants or recently naturalized Canadians in gaining recognition for education and work experience obtained outside of Canada.
I think it very important to note, wage assistance is paid to employers who provide work experience related to the client's educational background. Assessment assistance is provided to clients in high-demand occupations to help them with the costs associated with formal assessments through their professional associations. Assistance is also provided for obtaining translation and verification of international credentials, preparing documentation for affidavit purposes, and the delivery of workshops for clients on subjects such as the job search. In 1997-98, in that fiscal year, I am informed that approximately 150 clients registered with this program.
Madam Speaker, the next service which has been offered currently through my department is a very key one. It is the Credentials Assessment service. This service assists clients to prepare to complete documentation of their international credentials before submitting them to the accrediting body. The Credentials Assessment service facilitates the credential assessment and recognition process between applicants, professional licensing associations, and academic institutions by providing relevant information, direction, and also referrals on alternative career paths. The services have continued to yield positive results for individuals with international credentials.
I believe that our government has been proactive through this branch in its approach to the disseminating of information pertaining to the assessment of international credentials. Various mediums are currently being utilized to ensure efficient assessability and availability of information. Information sheets outlining the accreditation processes in 40 trades and 31 professions are available on the divisional home page on the Internet and are distributed in hard copy to prospective immigrants to assist them in making informed decisions about their careers and job prospects, sometimes before coming to Manitoba.
Similarly, for immigrants already residing in Manitoba, they now have access to information to assist them in making a decision about pursuing their original professions and trades or in fact exploring some alternate careers.
Madam Speaker, the Citizenship Division also has been active in working in the federal-provincial working group on access to professions. Through that working group, Manitoba has been advocating and supporting initiatives to disseminate relevant provincial credentials assessment information to prospective immigrants through overseas immigration posts. The division has also been an active participant at annual national forums regarding the prior learning assessment, which I think is really an important process where a person can in fact receive some assessment and perhaps credit for previous work experience or previous learning experience which may be very important for them as they look at the credentialing process. It is considered another means to allow skilled individuals to move into jobs that may have required some type of formal certification or regulatory requirement. This prior learning assessment model can be used for immigrants who were, in fact, not able to produce the formal documentation in support of their professions or trades.
Also, for several years, a division representative has served on the management board of the Canadian Information Centre for International Credentials, and this representation facilitates the discussion of issues surrounding international credentials with key stakeholders.
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Madam Speaker, we also have the Settlement and Adult Language Training Branch of the division, which provides programming in support of the recognition of international credentials. We also have workplace language training provided by the branch in support of career development of newcomers. In the past year, I understand, 51 workplace language training classes were provided for adult immigrants in support of their work ensuring employability, increased job efficiency, safety and allowing industries to meet international certification standards.
Our government is attempting to assist people who have credentials from outside of Canada, outside of Manitoba to utilize their education, their skills and their training. It is not a process that has been completed yet. It is a process that requires us to continue to work with the professional associations, with the trades associations and continue to find more ways to assist the new immigrants into actually pursuing their career that provides them with satisfaction.
As I said at the beginning, one of the issues which always has to be addressed--and I believe the member would find it hard not to agree--is one of safety and one of consideration that in fact standards have been met. So, Madam Speaker, we will be continuing to work with both the professional associations, the trades and immigrants who chose to settle in Manitoba, because they are in fact a major asset to our very vibrant, multicultural society.
Madam Speaker, we will continue to be working with our policies to encourage people in this area because it is an important one. Since I have been elected, I have had a number of presentations brought to me by people looking for information and that is the other thing we will be endeavouring to continue to provide: the most accurate information available to assist people in this area. Thank you very much, Madam Speaker.
Mr. Gerry McAlpine (Sturgeon Creek): I listened with interest to the resolution that has been presented by the honourable member for Broadway (Mr. Santos) with regard to accreditations and with professional people. I have some serious concerns with what he is proposing here although I do not have any difficulty in supporting professional people who immigrate to Canada or come to this province from other countries. I do have some difficulty with the suggestions that he is offering in terms of--as a matter of fact, the way I interpret what he is suggesting here is giving some special consideration to these people. If we follow what he is suggesting in this resolution, my interpretation is that they would be given special considerations which I do not believe is right from that aspect.
I think that where we do differ, Madam Speaker, is a matter of philosophy, I guess, in terms of our own direction as government but also as individuals. I think we have different minds in terms of our philosophies. I read this resolution and what stands out to me is the fact the honourable member in his resolution is proposing more control as far as government is concerned. I guess that is really where the difference in my philosophy is, that as far as these professions are concerned, I think that the more involvement that we as government have, I think there is considerable difficulty that is going to come from this. I think that the integrity of this whole aspect in terms of immigration and the professions that police their own members is one that is extremely important from the aspect of control and one that I do not think that government has got the capacity to do with the way that these professional boards or organizations offer in policing their own professions.
I think that we are talking about not only the matter of immigration of these--when people emigrate from other countries. We are talking about professional integrity. I am not saying that government is not going to be able to offer that integrity, but I do not know that we want the bureaucracy as far as this government is concerned to control that integrity within those professions.
Madam Speaker, I belong to two organizations that police themselves, and as a matter of fact, in one, in the real estate profession, when I first started in real estate in the early '70s, government had a very large control over the operations and the testing and the requirements for members who wanted to be affiliated with and be a part of that business. The thing that I found over time was the real estate industry took control of the direction and the licensing and the education through that whole profession. They were more strict and more controlling of the people in that profession. The interesting aspect of it was, it was not to the benefit of the people that were in there, but it was to the benefit of the public who were using the services.
I think that this is the same thing. Whether it be doctors or lawyers or people who are coming from other countries, they have a requirement and a standard to meet. I think that what the honourable member is suggesting here--as the mover of the resolution, he even suggests that what we are doing here in Manitoba or in Canada is discriminatory towards these people. I say, I do not see that at all. I think it is absolutely the opposite, as a matter of fact, because I think that we in this province, in terms of what we have been advocating and assisting when immigrants do come to this country, I think that they are offered a considerable amount of opportunities to qualify and to meet their interests and to carry out whatever professions are available to them, and definitely there are standards there. I think that the standards are there for a reason, and those standards will vary from one jurisdiction to another or one country to another. I think that is a fact of life.
The honourable minister has indicated in her remarks that maybe we could do things a little bit better in terms of informing people before they immigrate to this country and to this province what their requirements will be as to where they want to end up. From that aspect, I think that we can always do more in terms of helping with that.
In terms of this resolution, Madam Speaker, I think that the honourable member is suggesting the wrong approach here. Merely from the fact that I see in my own experience here with the different professions, I know that the Manitoba Law Society or the Manitoba College of Physicians and Surgeons set down some pretty strict guidelines in terms of what the requirements are. That is really important because I think that we have to remember that it is for the interests of the people who they are going to serve, and I do not think government can adequately do that. I would sooner see the organizations and the professions serve and set the criteria as far as the respective associations are dealing with.
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The professional and occupational associations are given the authority and the responsibility to establish minimum licensing and entry requirements and codes of conduct and disciplinary measures to deal with situations where these codes are breached and, in dealing with that, I think that is something of great importance. I think that by allowing those organizations or those professions to carry that through makes those professions stronger within their own right. When they become stronger--and I am not saying that they go beyond legislation. Legislation is there. The province and the government of the country put those guidelines in through legislation, and I think that the control is good, because the people who are going to benefit, as I have indicated, are the people who are going to be the ones who use those services and utilize the benefits that those professions have to offer. For some professions such as engineers, dentists, and physicians, national associations have been mandated to assess credentials, although the provincial licensing body still retained to the right to determine the licensing and the certification requirements.
In summary, the evaluation and assessment process is overseen by various authorities including academic institutions, accreditation boards, and professional occupational regulatory bodies. I think that if we look at the complexity of this and the diversity of the policies that are brought into the different professions--I know that we are only maybe talking not about a lot of professions. We are talking mainly about the professions like doctors and dentists or professions that I guess really require a real control on the qualifications and meeting the standards that are set down.
I think that as far as government involvement would be involved, we would see this watered down considerably, not that I do not have faith in the government as such. I do see a problem. I have seen the benefits of the organization's involvement, and I find that the more government is involved in these things, the weaker that organization becomes, because then everything is turned over to government. If we consider what we would have to do--you know, I am looking at this from the common-sense approach. I am not looking at this from the technical aspect; but, if we were to look at the whole picture here in terms of what we would take if we were going to follow the orders of this resolution, or what the mover, the honourable member is advocating, if we were to bring this forward, the different criteria and the regulations in the various professions that are out there that would be affected by this, we would need a bureaucracy that we just could not handle. We would have a minister for every different profession that was out there and layers and layers of government, and I do not think the people in Manitoba--that is not what they are looking for. That is not what the people in this country are looking for.
Honestly, I wonder, you know, why the need for this. I think the honourable member certainly has given this considerable thought. At least I hope he has, and I think that he is approaching this on the basis that he wants to do the right thing for the people whom he is speaking for, but I think from the aspect of what we want to do in terms of government, it is that we are serving all the people in the province of Manitoba and not just a few people. I am not downplaying the people who immigrate to this country because I respect and I have been involved with many of these people in terms of our involvement in immigration at a very community level, and I know the hardships they experience, but I think the more we tend to do for these and the easier that we make it for them, then the problem just magnifies, and I do not think that is the answer here.
So, Madam Speaker, in closing, I must say that I do not share the honourable member's view, and, as a result, I could not support this resolution, but I would like to thank you for the opportunity to put these few remarks on the record. Thank you.
Mr. David Faurschou (Portage la Prairie): Good afternoon, Madam Speaker. It is indeed an honour once again to rise in this most honoured House to address the resolution brought forward by the honourable member for Broadway (Mr. Santos). I must say that although I appreciate the sentiments brought forward in this resolution, I am speaking against the resolution.
The resolution has good intent; however, this province has an extremely good track record, and this government over the past 10 years has shown that it indeed welcomes immigration and most certainly within that immigration, professionals.
I would like to perhaps just go and provide a little bit of background in regard to this. Canada is indeed a very proud nation, and I am sincerely a very proud Canadian. This land of ours is recognized by the United Nations as the country of choice, a country that is recognized worldwide as being one where one can come and work, play, raise a family and do most anything without fear and discrimination.
I take great exception to the use of the word "discrimination." Discrimination has many contexts. One, indeed, does discriminate in every facet of one's decision-making process within their day-to-day life. However, within the connotation of discrimination, one can indeed recognize differences, and once those differences are recognized, if you treat one badly based on those differences, then indeed one could be considered in that connotation to discrimination.
However, I would like to more or less recognize the word "discrimination" in recognition and to mark the differences within us all, and, indeed, differences make this country what it is today. Not all of us are the same, and that is our strength. Strengths and weaknesses in everyone, once they come together in harmony, indeed strengthen and provide for this country and indeed provide for the foundation to which this country is world-renowned.
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I might just want to add in regard to immigration, this country and all the people herein outside of the First Nations people were once upon a time immigrants to this land of ours. My grandparents immigrated from a land that was undergoing tremendous political unrest. They came to this land looking for safety and security and peace of mind and indeed they found it, however, not without a lot of trial and hard work. This nation was built on their sweat and toil. My grandparents are extremely proud of this country today. They see that the fruits of their toil have come to fruition and thereby providing their grandchildren and their great-grandchildren a place in which they can run free and enjoy and be able to participate in any occupation or profession to which they choose. That is indeed the foundation for freedom; the freedom of choice. I am very proud of having that choice, and it has been something that I have grown to very much respect my grandparents for providing to me. All of us must recognize what we have today and what has been sacrificed for that end.
Personally, I sincerely believe in education and its importance within our society. The professionalism within our trades and all occupations is one that I have spent a good portion of my life devoted and dedicated to, not only within support of our children that are within the educational system but as well as a public school trustee. I have always welcomed anyone that was looking to Canada to come and experience the benefits of Canada and to grow and succeed. Outside of the education field, we have welcomed individuals into this land on training programs and provided the experience that one can only gain by coming to another country. Through the international agricultural student exchange program, we have had students that are seeking a professional life within agriculture come to Canada and experience what Canada has to offer and to learn from those experiences and then taking back to their own country a piece of Canada and, hopefully, that will provide for their own country's prosperity.
Personally speaking as well, one can remember the Vietnam War and the turmoil that went from that country and spilled over into Laos. Laos spawned many individuals to immigrate to Canada. We sponsored dozens of individuals through our church to come to Canada. We brought them into our home, we provided employment, and we saw to their basic needs. The government of the day provided for additional assistance. I believe it is much enhanced today by this government that we have here today in Manitoba.
These individuals were professionals in their own country of Laos. They were teachers, they were dentists, they were doctors. They came to this country, but they also, when they arrived here, did not take anything for granted. They did not come to our country expecting that they could pick up where they left off in their own country. They knew that this country had a lot to offer, but they wanted to come to this country and earn their accreditation so that they had the respect of the people of Canada. All opportunities were afforded them to do just that. These individuals are very prosperous today. They have taken their rightful place in our society and indeed are participating in our society through their own professional experiences. They have, as well, provided to Canada a broader base of which we have benefited, from not only their professional skills but their personal skills as well. They have broadened my horizons personally, and, most certainly, I am very appreciative of that.
One must also understand within this resolution the scope and the magnitude which we are addressing. You speak of discrimination, but this discrimination, even though I do not agree with it, even if you took it to the absolute proliferation of your resolution here, does not affect as many people as sometimes we are led to believe. There is only 20 percent of our professional trades that are garnered by technical or school accreditation or an association accreditation or a professional organization accreditation. That also is far less in numbers within the workforce as well. Having said that, I do not want to minimize it, but I do want to understand the scope and the magnitude when we speak of a particular topic.
I am very proud of this government's accomplishment because over the course of 10 years, we have recognized and very quickly addressed the needs of individuals coming to this country and certainly not only that of professionals but those persons wanting to come and fit into our society. The Credentials Recognition Program in which this province is participating provides training assistance and financial assistance to immigrants so that they can understand and be able to help with their assessment and their needs that they must address to provide for their accreditation. As well, when you are looking to get your accreditation, you must have your experience within the workplace, and workplaces within Canada are different. We have different labour codes that I am very proud of, and we provide for wage assistance to companies willing to employ those individuals so that they can garner the experience needed for their accreditation.
As well, we as legislators have a responsibility to all persons that we represent within this great province of ours. We must not take for a moment that responsibility lightly. We must guarantee that the professionals to which we provide accreditation are indeed to that professional standard that our citizens have come to expect. We cannot take second place in any facet because that is what makes this province and this nation indeed the one that everyone recognizes in the world.
So, essentially, although I have said that I am not supporting this resolution, I commend you for your particular--I do want to credit you for bringing this forward to the House today.
I might just give a past history to reinforce the dedication and commitment that this government has shown towards immigration to this province of ours. Very quickly, when we came into government, we recognized the needs and worked co-operatively with other provinces and the federal government in a working group to recognize the needs of immigrants and the credentials and experience that they would need to garner to become professionals and recognized professionals in our country.
In 1992 we went one step further and adopted the report and established the Immigration Credentials and Labour Market Branch, which indeed came under the auspices of Culture, Heritage and Citizenship under the honourable minister. Indeed, I am very proud of the way our government has come forward and following then in 1996 that we have furthered that commitment shown. We want to welcome anyone to this province to be able to prosper.
Madam Speaker: Order, please. When this matter is again before the House, the honourable member for Portage la Prairie (Mr. Faurschou) will have two minutes remaining.
The hour being 6 p.m., this House is adjourned and stands adjourned until 10 a.m. tomorrow (Thursday).