plus 1, Government of Canada Helping Foreign-Trained Physiotherapists Get Jobs Canada's Economic Action Plan ... - PR Inside

Government of Canada Helping Foreign-Trained Physiotherapists Get Jobs Canada's Economic Action Plan ... - PR Inside

Posted: 25 Jan 2011 10:02 AM PST

2011-01-25 19:06:59 - TORONTO, ONTARIO -- (Marketwire) -- 01/25/11 -- The Government of Canada is helping internationally trained physiotherapists find meaningful work faster. Mr. Dean Del Mastro, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Canadian Heritage, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, made the announcement today.

"We recognize the importance of helping foreign-trained health care practitioners get jobs in their fields," said Mr. Del Mastro. "Through Canada's Economic Action Plan, we are working with partners to improve foreign credential recognition. Projects like this one will help new Canadians put their knowledge and skills to work sooner in communities across Canada."

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators is receiving support from the Foreign Credential Recognition Program to improve its current system for assessing the education and work experience of foreign-trained physiotherapists. The Alliance will research best practices for credential and language evaluations used internationally and in related fields in Canada. This will result in a series of recommendations to streamline the overall licensing process for internationally trained physiotherapists wanting to practise in Canada.

Under the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, the Government of Canada is working with the provinces and territories and other partners, such as regulatory bodies, to address barriers to foreign credential recognition.

In 2010, service standards were established so that foreign-trained professionals in eight priority occupations, including nurses and physiotherapists, can have their qualifications assessed within one year, anywhere in Canada. This is one example of progress toward a more fair, transparent, timely and consistent system for foreign credential recognition across Canada.

This year, we will start improving foreign qualification recognition for six more target occupations, including physicians and dentists.

The physiotherapists' project, which is receiving over $100,000 from the Government of Canada, demonstrates how the Framework is bringing meaningful change to the way that newcomers' qualifications are assessed and recognized in Canada.

To learn more about Canada's Economic Action Plan, visit www.actionplan.gc.ca : .

Backgrounder

With the Economic Action Plan's $50-million investment, the Government is:

 -- developing the principles that will guide the process of foreign credential recognition; -- establishing standards for the timely handling of requests; -- identifying key occupations that will be the priority for developing recognition standards; and -- helping people who want to come to Canada understand what they need to know before they arrive.

Under the Pan-Canadian Framework for the Assessment and Recognition of Foreign Qualifications, the recognition of foreign credentials and experience is being streamlined for key occupations.

The following are the first set of target occupations in the Framework:

 -- architects -- engineers -- financial auditors and accountants -- medical laboratory technologists -- occupational therapists -- pharmacists -- physiotherapists -- registered nurses

The next set of target occupations in the Framework are the following:
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Under the Framework, internationally trained professionals who submit an application to be licensed or registered to work in certain fields, along with all fees and relevant documents to process the application, will be advised within one year how their credentials compare to Canadian standards. They may also be advised of additional requirements or be directed to alternative occupations that would benefit from their skills and experience.

The Foreign Credential Recognition Program aims to improve the integration of internationally trained workers into the workforce. The Program provides funding to and works with the provinces and territories and with stakeholders, including regulatory bodies, post-secondary institutions, sector councils and employers, to implement projects that facilitate the assessment and recognition of qualifications acquired in other countries.

The Foreign Credentials Referral Office (FCRO) was established in May 2007 to help internationally trained workers receive the information, path-finding and referral services, in Canada and overseas, to have their credentials assessed quickly so they can find work faster in the fields for which they have been trained. The FCRO works with federal, provincial and territorial partners, as well as foreign credential assessment and recognition bodies, to strengthen foreign credential recognition processes across the country. Internet services for internationally trained workers can be found on the FCRO website at www.credentials.gc.ca :

The Canadian Alliance of Physiotherapy Regulators is the national federation of provincial and territorial physiotherapy regulators committed to the development and improvement of regulatory standards for physiotherapists.

This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Contacts:
Office of Minister Finley
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
819-994-2482

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Media Relations Office
819-994-5559

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Baldelli formally retires, takes job with Rays - Major League Baseball

Posted: 26 Jan 2011 06:54 AM PST

By Bill Chastain / MLB.com | 01/26/11 9:35 AM EST

ST. PETERSBURG -- Rocco Baldelli, the Rays' first homegrown star, announced his retirement on Wednesday and accepted the position of special assistant to baseball operations with the team.

Baldelli, 29, will be involved in scouting and player development for Tampa Bay, the team he played for from 2003-08 and again in 2010.

"I don't anticipate ever playing baseball again," he told the St. Petersburg Times, which first reported Baldelli's decision. "I'm retired. ... And you know what? The only time I feel like it's good to retire is when you're happy to retire. And I'm happy."

A first-round Draft pick in 2000, Baldelli reached the big leagues three years later and finished third in the 2003 American League Rookie of the Year balloting after batting .289 with 78 RBIs, 89 runs and 27 steals, all current Rays rookie records.

He hit a career-high 16 home runs in 2004 and again in 2006. His .444 slugging percentage is tied with Carl Crawford for seventh-highest in club history and his .280 average is eighth.

"From the day he signed here in 2000, Rocco has earned the respect and admiration of both his peers and our fans," Rays executive vice president of baseball operations Andrew Friedman said in a statement released by the club. "Though his playing career has ended, he will continue to make a tremendous impact on the Rays organization. His feel and passion for the game are outstanding, and we're thrilled to have him in this role."

Baldelli's career was cut short by injuries and a rare medical condition, mitochondrial disorder, a condition that slows muscle recovery and causes fatigue. From 2003-04, the popular outfielder hit .285 with 27 home runs, 152 RBIs and 44 stolen bases. In those years he played in 292 of the team's 323 games, giving all indications that he would be a star for years to come. Unfortunately for Baldelli and the Rays, that path would change.

From 2005-10, he managed to play in just 227 of a possible 972 games (including a stint with the Red Sox in 2009), hitting .268 with 33 home runs, 110 RBIs, and 16 stolen bases.

Bill Chastain is a reporter for MLB.com. This story was not subject to the approval of Major League Baseball or its clubs.