The new Labour Mobility Act, which improves the ability of skilled workers to move across the country and helps to address labour shortages in Manitoba, has been proclaimed, Competitiveness, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan announced today.
“Manitoba is the first province to proclaim its labour mobility legislation,” Swan said. “Manitoba has been a leader in making labour mobility a priority and the passage of this act sends a clear signal that Manitoba is committed to ensuring labour mobility across Canada under the provisions of this act.”
The new Manitoba Labour Mobility Act will allow workers certified in other jurisdictions to practise their occupations in Manitoba in accordance with Chapter 7 of the Agreement on Internal Trade, Swan said. The province will continue to be responsible for maintaining and monitoring the requirements that are in place through provincial legislation for regulated occupations.
A person qualified and certified to practise an occupation in any Canadian jurisdiction would be recognized and able to practise their occupation in any other Canadian jurisdiction unless a province requires a specific exception from this rule to achieve a legitimate objective such as protecting health and safety.
Swan said maintaining and growing Manitoba’s highly skilled and experienced workforce is crucial for provincial industry to be successful internationally.
“We stand to benefit from reinforcing our commitment to full labour mobility because it will make it easier for a person certified as qualified to practise an occupation elsewhere in Canada to come to Manitoba to work,” the minister added.
The new act acknowledges Manitoba’s support of and commitment to the Apprenticeship and Trades Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program.
