For Immediate Release

January 26, 2004

Law and Diversity Conference to tackle issue of foreign-trained professionals in Canada

(Toronto, ON) —Despite Canada’s efforts to attract highlyeducated and skilled immigrants, there is an increasing number of immigrants who are not working in their field of expertise.

AConference Board of Canada study in 2001 found that each year Canada loses between $4-6 billion as a result of unrecognized qualifications, and that immigrants are among those who face the greatest difficulty in having their skills recognized.

On January 30, 2004, the Faculty of Law is hosting the SecondAnnual Law and DiversityConference at the University of Toronto, Making the Mosaic Work. This conference will critically examine federal and provincial policies and practices on the accreditation of foreign-trained professionals, as well as the difficulties that immigrants face in securing recognition for foreign work experience in the Canadian labour market.

“We wanted to create a forum to bring together academic experts, regulators and members of the community to discusshurdles immigrants face such as poor screening and recognition of their qualifications,” said conference organizer and law professor Sujit Choudhry.

Who:Dr. Rocco Gerace, Registrar, College of Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Dr. Uday Shankardass, President, Association of International Physicians and Surgeons of Ontario

Brad Sinclair, Executive Director, Ontario International Medical Graduate Clearinghouse

Naomi Alboim, School of Policy Studies, Queen’s University

Professor Jeffrey Reitz, University of Toronto, Dept. of Sociology

Faviola Fernandez, Policy Roundtable Mobilizing Professions and Trades (PROMPT)

What:Second Annual Law and Diversity Conference,Making the Mosaic Work

When:Friday, January 30, 2004

12:00 - 1:00 p.m.(registration, $20 fee)

1:00 - 4:30 p.m.

Where: 78 Queen’s Park, Flavelle House, Bennett Lecture Hall (lower level), University of Toronto, Faculty of Law

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For more information, please contact:

Kathleen O’Brien

Faculty of Law Communications Officer

Tel. 416.946.8188 or