Mobility now easier for workers across canada - December 2001

Qualifications becoming more readily recognized across jurisdictions

Ottawa, December 7, 2001- Workers in regulated occupations in Canada are finding it easier to gain employment across the country, as barriers to labour mobility are being removed. The Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) is pleased to report that workers in over three-quarters of 51 occupations that are regulated in more than one jurisdiction in Canada can have their qualifications recognized more readily across the country as of July 1, 2001. This represents almost 97% of workers in these 51 occupations.

"Ensuring workers can use their skills wherever opportunities exist is one of the keys to supporting people and strengthening our economy," says FLMM co-chair Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development Canada. "This success reflects the vigilant efforts of federal, provincial and territorial governments to remove labour mobility barriers in Canada."

"The rules around licensing and certifying people to work in regulated occupations are becoming more consistent, transparent and fair across Canada," adds co-chair Drew Caldwell, Minister of Education, Training and Youth for Manitoba.

Efforts to improve labour mobility were originally agreed to by governments as part of the Agreement on Internal Trade which came into effect in 1995. The deadline for eliminating barriers to the inter-provincial mobility of workers was agreed to by the federal, provincial and territorial governments (with the exception of the Quebec government) as part of the 1999 Social Union Framework Agreement (SUFA). While the Quebec government is not a signatory to SUFA, it nevertheless remained committed to the objective on a voluntary basis, within a reasonable period of time.

The Agreement on Internal Trade states that any worker qualified for an occupation in one province or territory should be granted access to employment opportunities in that occupation in any other province or territory. Typical restrictions include residency requirements and differing occupational standards and assessment methods across jurisdictions.

Governments have focussed on 51 of the occupations in Canada (such as teachers, engineers and nurses) that are regulated in two or more jurisdictions. While some regulated occupations are overseen directly by government, most are governed by private bodies which have been delegated authority through legislation. The FLMM reports that most licensing authorities for self-regulated occupations have taken steps to more readily recognize the qualifications of workers from another province or territory. This has been achieved through a process of comparing provincial/territorial standards and occupational requirements. Regulators have had to address some complex and challenging issues in order to improve labour mobility, and the FLMM commends their efforts and achievements.

In addition to self-regulating occupations, the regulated workforce includes trades occupations, (such as plumbers, electricians and crane operators) which are directly regulated by provincial and territorial governments. With a longer history of labour mobility, tradespeople are also enjoying improved mobility due to more consistent apprenticeship and assessment requirements across Canada.

The ministers noted that regulatory bodies worked hard to meet the July 1, 2001 deadline for compliance with the Labour Mobility Chapter of the Agreement on Internal Trade, and that further efforts would be made in order to achieve full compliance. The Forum of Labour Market Ministers will continue to offer support and assistance to regulatory bodies that have some outstanding issues to resolve or that have not yet determined how to recognize occupational standards across jurisdictions. The FLMM will monitor progress in this regard over the next several months and will consider further actions based upon that analysis.

See attached Backgrounder

More information is available online at: mobility

Information:

Ghyslain Charron
Press Secretary
Minister's Office
Human Resources Development Canada
(819) 953-2353

Joe Czech
Communications Coordinator
Manitoba Government
(204) 945-3811

• Full text of paper in PDF format