Fairness Commissioner Releases Recommendations to Improve Professional Licensing
First-ever survey of applicants helps pinpoint systemic flaws
March 30, 2010
Ontario's Fairness Commissioner, Hon. Jean Augustine, today released Clearing the Path: Recommendations for Action in Ontario's Professional Licensing System, outlining 17 specific recommendations to ensure that prospective doctors, engineers and other professionals do not face unexpected or unreasonable hurdles in getting certified in their respective fields.
The recommendations stem from three years of work conducted by the Office of the Fairness Commissioner. This research included study of 36 regulatory bodies, as well as qualifications assessment agencies (which are often engaged by regulatory bodies to evaluate an applicant's credentials) and, for the first time, applicants themselves. Nearly 4,000 current and former licensing applicants participated in an unprecedented survey, enabling the Office of the Fairness Commissioner to document their experiences.
"Hearing from applicants now gives us a more complete picture of Ontario's professional licensing system than ever before," Augustine said. "We have seen some progress over the past three years. But in too many cases, the system is still needlessly complex, costly, and time consuming."
The Commissioner emphasized that the problems are not universal, pointing out that many survey respondents told of positive experiences. But similarities in the experiences of those who encountered difficulties helped to pinpoint areas for improvement.
"We must always remember that we are talking about human beings, whose lives and families are thrown into great upheaval. Some of the stories are truly heartbreaking," she said. "Several people even told us that if they had known about the obstacles they would face, they would never have come to Canada. This is an alarming message, and we must take steps to ensure it does not persist."
The Commissioner's recommendations—part of her ongoing work—set out targeted actions for regulatory bodies, qualifications assessment agencies, the provincial and federal governments and for applicants themselves. The recommendations are primarily aimed at improving communication and coordination.
"There are still too many unemployed or underemployed professionals in Ontario. We are recommending inexpensive actions to help alleviate this situation," Augustine said.
Clearing the Path, along with the report of the applicants' study, Getting Your Professional Licence in Ontario: the Experiences of International and Canadian Applicants, have been posted at www.fairnesscommissioner.ca. Video testimonials from participants in the applicants' study have also been posted to the website.
The Office of the Fairness Commissioner (OFC) is an arm's-length agency of the Ontario government, established under the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, with a mandate to ensure transparent, objective, impartial and fair registration processes.
Background information:
For further information and interview requests:
Beatrice Schriever, Office of the Fairness Commissioner
(416) 325-9511
beatrice.schriever@ontario.ca
www.fairnesscommissioner.ca
