Ontario construction stakeholders are praising new labour-mobility regulations as an important step towards breaking down interprovincial work barriers, but they say they will be watching implementation closely and are calling for further reforms.

Starting next Jan. 1, skilled workers in certified professions from other provinces and the territories can begin working in Ontario within 10 days under new “As of Right” rules, once credentials and requirements are confirmed by their regulator.

Over 50 regulators are covered by regulations filed Sept. 1 under Bill 2, the Protect Ontario Through Free Trade Within Canada Act, including construction trades workers, architects, engineers, building officials and planners.

“We’re breaking down interprovincial barriers so certified tradespeople, engineers and architects from across Canada can get to work here in days, not months,” commented Ontario Minister of Labour David Piccini in a statement. “These first-in-Canada, Canada-first changes ensure Ontario is ready to deliver on nation-building projects that cannot be held back by costly delays.”

The current approvals process can force workers to wait up to half a year before being registered and able to start a job, the government stated.

Representatives for bodies regulating engineers, planners, engineering technologists and architects all said there is already reciprocity acknowledging credentials for their professionals in jurisdictions across the country and the new Ontario measures merely add an early-practice privilege.

Sudbury architect Ted Wilson, president of the governing council of the Ontario Association of Architects (OAA), explained under the new regulations, once an eligible architect submits the required notification and proof of licence, the OAA must acknowledge the application within 10 business days. The applicant may practise in Ontario for up to six months while their full reciprocity application is assessed.