Proposal to amend the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Skilled Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA) to introduce time limits for making and communicating registration decisions in respect of domestic labour mobility applicants.
Regulation Number(s):
N/A
Instrument Type:
Act
Bill or Act:
Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Skilled Trades Act, 2006
Summary of Proposal:
The Ontario government is committed to attracting skilled workers to the province and addressing labour shortages. To support these priorities, Ontario is proposing statutory amendments to the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA) that would introduce time limits for the 14 regulated professions (including 23 compulsory trades) under the Act to make and communicate registration decisions with respect to domestic labour mobility applicants.
1. A time limit of 10 business days from receiving an application in which regulated professions must provide written acknowledgement of receipt, including a statement as to whether the application includes all required elements.
2. A time limit of 30 business days from receiving a complete application in which regulated professions must make a registration decision and provide written communication to the applicant, including reasons for the decision as required.
3. A time limit of 10 business days from an internal review or appeal decision in which regulated professions must provide written communication of that decision.
Proposed amendments would also include regulation-making authority regarding exemptions from the time limits, among other things.
Domestic labour mobility applicants are workers who are applying for registration with a regulated profession in Ontario and are currently registered with a body that regulates the same profession in another Canadian province or territory.
The aim of the proposed amendments is to facilitate skilled workers' movement to Ontario and access to the province's labour market by providing them and their employers with clarity and transparency on registration timelines.
The 14 regulated professions included in FARPACTA would be required to track and report on their compliance with the time limits. The Ontario Office of the Fairness Commissioner will be responsible for oversight and compliance.
Analysis of Regulatory Impact:
Proposed amendments would apply only to the 14 regulated professions (including 23 compulsory trades) under the Fair Access to Regulated Professions and Skilled Trades Act, 2006 (FARPACTA).
The proposed amendments are intended to directly benefit individual domestic labour mobility applicants and indirectly benefit their employers by providing assurances on registration timelines. The 14 regulated professions included in FARPACTA may need to make some adjustments to meet the time limits and the tracking and reporting requirements.
Further Information:
Proposal Number:
22-MLTSD 008
Posting Date:
March 2, 2022
Comments Due Date:
April 1, 2022
Contact Address:
Workforce Policy and Innovation Division
315 Front Street West, 17th Floor
Toronto, Ontario, M5V 3A4