Ontario will remove interprovincial barriers for workers in regulated professions, allowing them greater mobility when searching for work across the country.
The Labour Day announcement says the province has signed 10 agreements with other provinces and territories. These agreements will help remove barriers for workers. This will allow them to come to Ontario and find jobs in over 50 “in-demand” professions. These professions include engineers, architects, and electricians.
As of January 1, 2026, people working in regulated professions will be able to start working within 10 days of having their credentials confirmed by their regulator.
The province says under these agreements, Ontarians in these fields will also be able to find work in other provinces.
The new system will affect more than 200 regulated professions across Ontario, marking what Labour Minister David Piccini calls “a Canadian first” in labour mobility legislation.
Wait Times Cut from Months to Half a Year Down to 10 Days
Workers will register with their relevant regulator and be able to begin working within 10 days while regulators process their full registration. The province is also streamlining what regulators can ask for in the application process.
If regulators fail to meet the 10-day timeline, they can face administrative penalties for non-compliance.
The historic implementation of “As of Right” rules will apply across professions covered by more than 50 regulatory authorities and 300 certifications, affecting approximately 20 per cent of all occupations in Canada.
“We’re talking all regulated professions,” Labour Minister David Piccini said in a recent interview. “We know now more than ever we have consensus around nation building. Now’s the time to put down our political stripes to work together and to make sure a Canadian worker can move freely.”
10-Day Registration Process Backed by Penalties
Workers will register with their relevant regulator and be able to begin working within 10 days while regulators process their full registration. The province is also streamlining what regulators can ask for in the application process.
If regulators fail to meet the 10-day timeline, they can face administrative penalties for non-compliance.
Piccini gave the example of workers graduating from Memorial University in Newfoundland or those working in Alberta’s oil sands who want to move to work in Ontario’s industrial sector. Under the old system, they could be “held up for months navigating regulatory processes.”
The changes are supported by regulations filed this Labour Day under the Protect Ontario through Free Trade within Canada Act, 2025, with approximately 3,000 labour mobility applications processed in 2023 across 14 regulated professions and 23 compulsory trades.
Professional Bodies Welcome Changes
Major professional associations have endorsed the new mobility rules, saying they will strengthen their professions while maintaining public safety standards.
“Our organization is proud to be a leader in supporting this approach, having built and maintained reciprocal agreements with our provincial counterparts for many years,” said Christopher van Dop, president of the Ontario Association of Certified Engineering Technicians and Technologists.
Professional Engineers Ontario said the changes “will help to build Canada, including much needed projects and endeavours here in Ontario,” while Professional Geoscientists of Ontario called the government’s objectives “bold” and said allowing geoscientists to practice more freely “will strengthen our profession while ensuring continued robust protection of public safety.”
The Association of Translators and Interpreters of Ontario said the legislation will help professionals “secure employment more quickly and efficiently while ensuring Ontarians continue to receive high-quality, reliable language services.”
MAKE YOUR CANADIAN DREAM A REALITY
Response to U.S. Trade Uncertainty
The announcement comes amid what the government describes as “economic uncertainty caused by U.S. tariffs,” with officials positioning the labour mobility changes as part of protecting Ontario from external economic pressures.
Piccini described the current situation where workers couldn’t move freely within Canada as “absolutely ludicrous,” comparing it to historical barriers to interprovincial trade, like restrictions on BC wine or Quebec beer.
“It’s 2025 in Canada and workers aren’t moving freely and it’s high time that ends,” Piccini said.
The announcement also comes as Ontario grapples with youth unemployment sitting at around 14%. The province has been promoting skilled trades through initiatives like expanded apprenticeship programs and “level up” career fairs, while also calling on the federal government to reduce temporary foreign worker numbers to create more opportunities for Canadian youth.
Ontario Expects Other Provinces to Follow Lead
The province says the 10 agreements signed to date include “reciprocal measures that will make it easier for Ontario workers to move to and work in other parts of the country as well.”
Ontario expects other provinces to follow suit with similar legislation, as “where Ontario goes others follow,” according to Piccini.
The government is also working with other provinces and territories to harmonize occupational health and safety training standards to help streamline pathways to work inter-provincially.
The changes take effect January 1, 2026, giving regulatory bodies time to prepare their systems for the accelerated timeline.
Need Expert Guidance?
For professionals looking to work in Ontario, the new system promises to eliminate wait times that previously deterred interprovincial moves. For Ontario-based workers, reciprocal agreements should provide similar benefits when seeking opportunities in other provinces.
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