Province rolls out new labour mobility, internal free-trade regulations to help employers access skilled talent more quickly
Ontario is rolling out its new labour mobility and internal free‑trade regulations aimed at breaking down interprovincial barriers for workers and businesses and helping employers access skilled Canadian talent more quickly.
The changes — which took effect Jan. 1, 2026 — are part of what the government calls its plan “to protect Ontario and strengthen its economic resilience,” and to “support Ontario and Canadian workers and build a unified Canadian workforce that can stand up to U.S. tariffs and economic uncertainty.”
Under new “As of Right” labour mobility regulations, in‑demand certified professionals such as architects, engineers, geoscientists, land surveyors and electricians will be able to begin working in Ontario within 10 business days, once their credentials and requirements are confirmed by the relevant Ontario regulator. The “As of Right” rule will apply across professions covered by more than 50 regulatory authorities and 300 certifications.
“By streamlining the process for certified professionals from other Canadian jurisdictions to work in Ontario, we’re opening doors for talent and driving economic growth,” said David Piccini, Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development. “These changes create new opportunities for workers and businesses, strengthen our province’s competitiveness and use a Canada-first approach to take on global economic uncertainty.”
On Sept. 1, 2025, the Ontario government announced new measures designed to remove barriers that restrict Canadian workers from moving between provinces. Among these initiatives was O. Reg. 199/25: Deemed Certification, introduced under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009.
Red tape and health professionals
Ontario is also expanding “As of Right” rules for regulated health professionals. The government will extend these rules to 16 additional regulated health professions and is taking steps toward automatic recognition of physicians and nurses who are registered and in good standing in other provinces and territories, making it “faster and easier for them to continue their practice in Ontario.”
“Our government is cutting red tape so physicians, nurses, and other regulated health professionals from across Canada can start working in Ontario sooner,” said Sylvia Jones, Deputy Premier and Minister of Health. “By strengthening labour mobility, we’re making it easier for qualified professionals to practise here and helping people get the right care, in the right place, where and when they need it.”
The province’s labour mobility initiative forms part of a wider push to unlock free trade within Canada. Since April 2025, Ontario has signed economic cooperation memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with 10 provinces and territories “to strengthen interprovincial trade, enhance economic resilience and reduce costly regulatory barriers.”
Previously, the Canadian Federation of Independent Business (CFIB) called on governments to address the labour quality and mobility issues that small businesses are currently experiencing.
These challenges include a shortage of applicants, skills mismatches, and difficulty attracting candidates when hiring skilled workers. Labour mobility barriers are compounding these issues, according to the group.
Mutual recognition to reduce red tape
Building on that, the government has published a draft regulation under the Ontario Free Trade and Mobility Act, 2025 (OFTMA) to advance mutual recognition of goods and services from other reciprocating Canadian jurisdictions. According to the province, mutual recognition will “reduce red tape and accelerate market access by eliminating the need for businesses to meet multiple sets of regulatory requirements,” supporting economic integration and removing internal trade barriers that “cost the economy up to $200 billion every year.”
By “reducing barriers and streamlining labour mobility,” the province says it is enabling workers and businesses “to seize opportunities across provinces and drive economic growth.”
Ottawa’s Free Trade and Labour Mobility in Canada Act also officially took effect on Jan. 1, 2026.
