(Your Alberta/YouTube)

By Tiffany Goodwein

Province introduces new bill aimed at addressing labour shortages

Oct 25, 2021 | 5:27 PM

MEDICINE HAT, AB– The Alberta Government is taking steps aimed at tackling labour shortages across the province.

Bill 49, otherwise known as the Labour Mobility Act, was introduced in the legislature today. If it is passed, it will become easier for skilled out-of-province workers to have their professional credentials recognized in Alberta.

At a press briefing this afternoon, Premier Jason Kenney said despite the province enduring a triple whammy during the past 20 months with the a downturn in the world economy, collapsing oil prices, and the COVID-19 pandemic , the province has been seeing strong signs of economic growth and recovery.

The province is currently seeing the second-fastest job growth in the country, and growth in industries like the technology sector, oil and gas and the film industry.

But Kenney cautioned that labour shortages in province could stop their economic momentum.

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In a meeting with 20 different industry associations, Kenney said that all of them expressed a labour shortage as their single biggest challenge.

“Alberta’s economy is coming back stronger than ever but we need to have enough workers to make that happen. The Labour Mobility Act will help make Alberta a magnet for skilled professionals by making it easier for them to come to our province and have their credentials recognized. If passed, this bill will lead to more jobs, a stronger workforce and a faster economic recovery,” Kenney said.

The act would apply to over 100 regulated professions including veterinarians, master electricians, teachers, registered nurses, and real estate professionals.

Under the act, regulatory bodies would have 20 business days to make a decision on credential applications, making them the first province in Canada to implement timelines.

Premier Kenney said he is also calling on other provinces to reduce barriers that prevent the free flow of talent among provinces. Across Canada, he said, labour mobility, and barriers to free trade to cost the national economy up to $130 million per year.

“Occupations are regulated inconsistently across Canada, creating a patchwork of credential recognition that holds back skilled and certified workers, many of them face additional educational examination, training requirements, basically red tape if they try to get a job in a different province. That is time, money and talent that is wasted,” Kenney said.

Citing a 2020 C.D. Howe Institute report, the province said improving labour mobility could add approximately $2.8 billion per year to Alberta’s GDP.