Alberta Record

· Order in Council / Labour Mobility Act Proclamation · enacted

Labour mobility act proclamation

This Order in Council proclaims the Labour Mobility Act, except section 27, into force in Alberta on April 6, 2023.

High impactCentralization of powerInstitutional independenceThe public, directlyIndependent watchdogs

What changed

  • The Labour Mobility Act, with the exception of section 27, is brought into legal effect in Alberta.
  • The effective date for the Act's implementation is April 6, 2023.
  • The Lieutenant Governor in Council made the new Labour Mobility Regulation, which defines application requirements for professionals seeking to register in Alberta from other Canadian jurisdictions.
  • The Regulation mandates that Alberta regulatory bodies accept prior assessments of education, competency, training, or work experience from other Canadian provincial or territorial regulatory bodies.
  • It outlines specific information regulatory bodies may request from labour mobility applicants, including proof of good standing, character, and disciplinary history from current or past registering bodies.
  • The Regulation establishes rules for assessing an applicant's knowledge of Alberta-specific matters and proficiency in a language of practice, requiring regulatory bodies to offer assessment opportunities.
  • It prohibits regulatory bodies from imposing requirements on labour mobility applicants that are less favourable or more onerous than those for other applicants, with specific exceptions for actual cost differentials in fees.
  • The Regulation defines procedures for auditing regulatory bodies' compliance with the Labour Mobility Act and this new Regulation, including notice, scope, standards, and auditor qualifications and duties.

Why it matters

  • The proclamation establishes the legal framework for inter-provincial labour mobility within Alberta, affecting individuals seeking to practice regulated professions and trades.
  • This action formalizes the provincial government's approach to recognizing out-of-province professional qualifications.
  • This Regulation reduces the discretion of Alberta's professional regulatory bodies in setting their own standards for inter-provincial applicants by mandating the acceptance of prior assessments.
  • It aims to streamline the process for professionals seeking to practice in Alberta from other Canadian jurisdictions, potentially increasing labour mobility across the country.
  • The establishment of uniform provincial standards for inter-provincial recognition centralizes certain aspects of professional registration, impacting the autonomy of individual regulatory bodies.
  • It ensures that labour mobility applicants are treated equitably compared to applicants who are not moving from another Canadian jurisdiction, by prohibiting less favourable or more onerous requirements.
  • The audit provisions introduce a mechanism for oversight, ensuring regulatory bodies adhere to the new provincial framework for labour mobility.

Other governance concerns

  • The Act's implementation introduces new requirements for the recognition of professional qualifications across jurisdictions, potentially impacting the autonomy of professional regulatory bodies.
  • Reduced autonomy for professional regulatory bodies in setting and applying registration standards for inter-provincial applicants.
  • Standardization of professional registration processes across provinces for labour mobility.
  • Potential impact on the ability of regulatory bodies to tailor competency requirements to specific provincial contexts.
  • Increased oversight of professional regulatory bodies through audit provisions.

Primary sources (3)

Secondary sources (2)