Removing barriers to labour mobility

Overview

Bill 49: the Labour Mobility Act allows highly skilled Canadian certified professional workers to easily and quickly get work in our province by removing barriers and creating a consistent approach to recognizing out-of-province credentials.

Previously, out-of-province certified professional workers faced additional educational, examination and practice-hour requirements in order to use their credentials in Alberta. Bill 49 creates a standardized approach to recognizing out-of-province credentials and clarifies requirements for Alberta's professional regulatory authorities.

Bill 49 also allows for the seamless movement of these certified professional workers to our province in more than 100 regulated occupations, including optometrists, engineers and accountants.

Labour mobility is a key part of Alberta’s Recovery Plan to help attract skilled workers, support economic growth and create jobs now and into the future.

Key changes

Bill 49, the Labour Mobility Act:

• standardizes and streamlines processes to recognize the credentials and training of out-of-province certified professional workers
• introduces maximum timeframes (20 business days) for registration decisions or an extension of up to 10 business days via Minister approval
• requires processes for appeals and for internally reviewing applications
• determines what information or documentation types or quantities regulatory authorities can request
• defines offences and financial penalties for contravening the act
• requires documentation and fees be available on a public website

Resources

• Bill 49 Labour Mobility Act fact sheet (PDF, 315 KB)
• Bill 49 Labour Mobility Act occupations (PDF, 412 KB)

Next steps

Bill 49: the Labour Mobility Act comes into force upon proclamation.

News

• Strengthening Alberta’s workforce (October 25, 2021)