Dear Editor:
Re: Med student says red tape keeping her out of B.C., Burnaby NOW, April 11.
I would suggest that Ms. Pluta's concerns, while valid, are not entirely realistic.
In short, this is neither new nor unique to medically trained professionals who have obtained their training outside of Canada. It applies also to architects, engineers, nurses, lawyers and other professional groups.
As an employment counsellor in Burnaby, I have worked with many clients who have experienced Ms. Pluta's frustrations.
However, there is no clear or quick fix in this regard, as employment opportunities as these professionals also need to involve their respective professional associations, i.e. the B.C. College of Physicians and Surgeons.
It's no surprise that the college and the B.C. government most likely would support and encourage the majority of placements for (Canadians) trained at North American medical schools over foreign-trained graduates.
The same would hold true for other professions.
Obviously standardization and an established criteria are key.
That said, for those who are foreign-trained, those people should then be prepared to take advantage of the Ministry of Health's active efforts to recruit and place foreign-trained doctors in other areas of the province, outside of the Lower Mainland, whether or not that is a preferred location for the job seeker.
Colleen Kendall, Burnaby
