The Agreement on Internal Trade

The Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) is an intergovernmental trade agreement signed by Canadian First Ministers (provincial, territorial, federal). The Agreement entered into force on July 1, 1995. The purpose of this agreement is to reduce and eliminate, to the extent possible, barriers to the free movement of persons, goods, services and investments within Canada and to establish an open, efficient and stable Canadian market.

Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility) of the AIT

Changes to Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility) ( 47 KB) of the Agreement on Internal Trade were approved by the Forum of Labour Market Ministers and by Internal Trade Minister in December 2008, to take effect on April 1, 2009. These changes reflect Manitoba's commitment to ensuring full labour mobility for certified workers in regulated occupations (professions and trades) applying to Manitoba from other Canadian jurisdictions.

The Chapter now states that a certified, licensed, registered or officially recognized worker in one province or territory, upon application, will be certified, licensed, registered or officially recognized for that same occupation by any other province or territory without the worker being required to undertake additional requirements, such as education, training or examination. The Guidelines for Meeting the Obligations of the Labour Mobility Chapter (July 2009) are available to assist regulatory authorities and stakeholders to understand Chapter 7 and how to meet its obligations.

Governments have agreed that certain specific additional requirements, such as undergoing a criminal record check are permitted by the Agreement. Additionally, where a significant variation in occupational standards exists between Canadian jurisdictions for a given occupation, a government may approve justification for an exception to full labour mobility as required to achieve a legitimate objective, such as public security and safety. To date, the Government of Manitoba has approved the justification for an exception to full labour mobility for the following regulated occupations:

• Lawyer (15 KB)
• Licensed Practical Nurse (16 KB)
• Midwife (16 KB)

The Labour Moblility Act

The Labour Mobility Act, C.C.S.M. c. L5 came into effect in Manitoba on June 11, 2009. The Act underlines Manitoba’s commitment to full labour mobility in Canada by allowing certified workers from other Canadian jurisdictions to practice their occupations in Manitoba in accordance with Chapter 7 (Labour Mobility) of the AIT.  The Act requires Manitoba regulatory authorities to meet the obligations of the Chapter 7 when workers who are certified for an occupation in another jurisdiction apply to obtain certification for the same occupation in Manitoba and ensures there are no barriers to accomplishing this in statutes, regulations, rules, by-laws, directives, guidelines, programs, policies or administrative practices or procedures regulating occupations in Manitoba.

Province of Manitoba News Releases on labour mobility:

June 12, 2009, Manitoba First Province to Proclaim Labour Mobility Act
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, Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan announced today...

April 21, 2009, Government Introduces Labour Mobility Bill
Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Andrew Swan today introduced the Labour Mobility Act, which would improve labour mobility within Canada and help to address skill shortages in many regions of the country by creating opportunities for freer movement of certified workers...

April 1, 2009, Manitoba Removes Barriers To Labour Mobility: Swan
Manitoba is removing barriers to labour mobility as part of a strengthened chapter under the national Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT) which comes into effect today...

For labour mobility related questions contact:

Provincial Labour Mobility Co-ordinator
E-mail: lmi@gov.mb.ca
Phone: (204) 945-8836