World Immigration News

(The Toronto Star)Opinion | I’m an immigrant who can’t find work in my field. The system isn’t protecting Canadians — it is failing them

Release Date
2026-08-17
Media
The Toronto Star
Summary
The article argues that although Canada promotes itself internationally as a welcoming destination for skilled global talent, many immigrants find that their professional experience is undervalued once they arrive. The author, who moved from Ukraine to Canada with her family after the war began in 2022, had nearly ten years of experience as a senior international flight attendant. However, she discovered that she could not work as a flight attendant on a work permit and needed permanent resident status. While waiting nearly two years for permanent residency, she took a receptionist job at an insurance company and returned to journalism by writing for a local newspaper.

The author says her experience reflects a broader problem affecting foreign-trained doctors, engineers, educators and other professionals. Immigrants often face lengthy licensing procedures, expensive examinations, retraining requirements and immigration delays, forcing highly skilled people into entry-level or physically demanding jobs simply to support themselves. This is particularly striking in health care, where Canada faces serious shortages while internationally trained medical professionals may be unable to work in their fields.

The article concludes that this system harms not only immigrants but Canada itself. Rather than disregarding international qualifications and experience, Canada should provide streamlined pathways and focused training in local regulations so newcomers can quickly adapt their existing skills. Genuine integration, the author argues, occurs when immigrants feel that their abilities are valued and that they can meaningfully contribute to the society that welcomed them.
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Canada

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