Reducing Barriers For Internationally-Trained Engineers

May 20, 2010 1:30 PM

McGuinty Government Helping Newcomers Succeed, Supporting Economic Development

As part of Open Ontario, the province intends to make it easier for internationally-trained engineers to be licensed in Ontario.

Proposed amendments to the Professional Engineers Act would allow qualified foreign-trained engineers to be licensed to work in Ontario without being a Canadian citizen or permanent resident. These amendments are part of the proposed Open for Business Act introduced on Monday.

Currently, a person must be a Canadian citizen or permanent resident before they can get an Ontario license. Eliminating this requirement would help attract more highly-skilled workers to the province and strengthen Ontario's economy.

The proposed Open for Business Act is part of Ontario's ambitious three-year initiative to create faster, smarter and streamlined government-to-business services that make the province more attractive for business development while protecting the public interest.

Quick Facts

Other changes in the proposed Open for Business Act would make it easier for the Professional Engineers of Ontario Council to oversee the profession and allow limited license holders, such as engineering technicians and technologists, to hold a certificate of authorization. This would allow them to practice in their limited scope without the direct supervision of a professional engineer.
In Ontario, everyone practicing engineering must be fully licensed and accountable to the regulatory oversight of Professional Engineers Ontario.
There are approximately 73,000 licensed engineers in Ontario.

Learn More

Contacts

Erin Moroz
Minister's Office, Ministry of the Attorney General
416-326-1785
Brendan Crawley
Minister's Office, Ministry of the Attorney General
416-326-2210
Indira Naidoo-Harris
MCI Minister's Office
416-325-6205
Michel Payen-Dumont
MCI Communications Branch
416-314-7010

Ministry of Citizenship and Immigration
ontario.ca/citizenship