Ontario to allow out-of-province skilled trades workers to register within 30 days
The Government of Ontario recently announced new provisions to help with the province’s labour shortage by removing barriers for skilled workers from out-of-province. The government intends to table legislation to allow workers to register and get their credentials processed in their regulated profession or trade within 30 days.
HRAI has long advocated for the implementation of measures that would create alignment with other jurisdictions and increase labour mobility. Most recently in its 2022 Ontario budget submission and in discussions with Skilled Trades Ontario, HRAI affirmed industry support for efforts to improve interprovincial labour mobility and a harmonized approach to recognizing designated trades across Ontario.
The government also announced its intent to recognize three fuel-related professions (gas technician 1 and 2 and OBT) under the province’s skilled trades legislation, meaning Ontario would officially recognize all 55 Red Seal Trades. This initiative is consistent with the Canada Free Trade Act which includes a partnership arrangement between the federal government and provinces and territories to create a common standard for apprenticeship training and certification across the country. HRAI has entered discussions with the Ministry and TSSA on what this transition will look like, and there are many details yet to be worked out, but this too is in response to a long-requested change that HRAI members have pushed for.
HRAI will continue to reinforce that MLTSD and Skilled Trades Ontario should seek further guidance on interprovincial labour mobility initiatives from trade-specific STO industry advisory committees that would be in a position to advise on the necessary trade scope requirements for increasing interprovincial alignment.
For more information, contact Chelsea Goberdhan at 1-800-267-2231 ext. 236, or email cgoberdhan@hrai.ca.
Back to Newsletters
