Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Ontario is bringing new labour mobility and free-trade regulations into force Jan. 1 aimed at helping employers, including those in construction and engineering, fill skilled positions faster by removing interprovincial barriers for certified workers.
Under new “as of right” labour mobility regulations, certified professionals from other provinces — including architects, engineers, geoscientists, land surveyors and electricians — will be allowed to begin working in Ontario within 10 business days once their credentials are confirmed by the relevant Ontario regulator.
Publicly advertised job postings must now:
- Include expected pay or a salary range
- Disclose when artificial intelligence is used in hiring
- Clearly indicate whether a real vacancy exists
- Provide timely updates to interviewed candidates
- Offer a way to report fraudulent job postings on major platforms
The rules apply to professions governed by more than 50 regulatory authorities and cover roughly 300 certifications.
David Piccini, minister of labour, immigration, training and skills development, said the changes are designed to streamline entry for qualified professionals already certified elsewhere in Canada.
“These changes create new opportunities for workers and businesses and strengthen our province’s competitiveness,” Piccini said in a statement.
The regulations come into effect as part of a broader package of government regulatory changes taking effect Jan. 1, 2026.
In addition to construction-related professions, Ontario is expanding labour mobility rules for regulated health-care workers. The province is extending “as of right” recognition to 16 additional regulated health professions and is moving toward automatic recognition for physicians and nurses registered and in good standing in other provinces and territories.
Deputy Premier and Health Minister Sylvia Jones said the changes are intended to reduce red tape while maintaining regulatory oversight.
Ontario’s labour mobility reforms are part of a wider effort to increase interprovincial trade and reduce regulatory barriers. Since April 2025, the province has signed economic co-operation memorandums of understanding with 10 provinces and territories.
The government has also published a draft regulation under the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act, 2025, which would allow for the mutual recognition of goods and services from participating Canadian jurisdictions. The province says this would eliminate the need for businesses to comply with multiple regulatory frameworks and speed access to new markets.
Economic Development, Job Creation and Trade Minister Vic Fedeli said internal trade barriers are estimated to cost the Canadian economy up to $200 billion annually.
Ontario is Canada’s largest interprovincial trader.
