Woodbridge, ON – Sep. 15, 2006:  
Public Forum on Bill 124 in Vaughan: Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006.

Human Endeavour organized a public forum on Bill 124 with the Provincial Minister of Citizenship & Immigration Mike Colle as the chief guest. Bill 124 is aimed at providing the new & skilled immigrants in 34 regulated professions with a quicker and transparent process to getting settled in the professions of their own choices. It will ensure that the process of assessment and accreditation is fair and quicker. A fairness commissioner would supervise the work of   the agencies/ departments and the individuals will have the right to appeal.

If the Bill is passed it would require regulatory bodies to provide applicants with written   reasons of decision, allow the court to levy fines of upto 50,000 for an individual and 100,000 against a corporation for breaking rules, create a one stop access centre for internationally trained individuals to facilitate the employment of such people through referrals and internships.

Human Endeavour fully supports Bill 124 as it would help the immigrants and arranged this public forum to give information about it to the people. The forum was held in the Vaughan Civic Centre in the Council Chambers. The panel members consisted of Honorable Mike Colle (Minister of Citizenship and Immigration), Honorable Greg Sorbara (Minister of Finance), Mario Racco (MPP Thornhill), Michael Di Biase (the Mayor of Vaughan), Mario Ferri (Regional Councillor), Noor Din (Executive Director Human Endeavour), Dr. Aslam Daud (Ahmadiyya Community) and Dr. M.H. Zohouri (Iranian Community).

The forum was attended by more than 150 people that included the representatives of various organizations, people from different fields of life, and new immigrants. After the speeches, Mike Colle answered the questions asked by the public. He said that the bill is especially timely given Ontario’s current economic climate. Refreshments were served and the public got the chance to directly talk to the Ministers.