Released on February 13, 2012
Saskatchewan accountants will soon be able to work in Ontario without having their credentials questioned after Saskatchewan and a number of other provinces won a panel ruling under the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT). Manitoba, supported by Saskatchewan, Alberta and British Columbia argued that their Certified General Accountants were effectively prevented from practicing in Ontario due to unfair regulations that were deemed in contravention of the AIT.
"Regulated occupations across Canada such as CGAs have a high degree of commonality in their professional standards," Advanced Education, Employment and Immigration Minister Rob Norris said. "I am pleased that the AIT panel has recognized those commonalities and ruled in favour of Saskatchewan. This improved labour mobility will benefit workers, employers and communities."
The AIT includes labour mobility rules to ensure that certifications earned in one province are recognized in other provinces for equivalent occupations. This ruling is the first of its kind under the AIT.
"Saskatchewan accountants are as professional and capable as any of their counterparts anywhere in the country, but Ontario's unfair regulations forced our accountants to jump through unnecessary hoops before working in that market," Enterprise Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "We are standing up for our CGAs and the AIT panel is doing exactly what it is designed to do by leveling the playing field."
The AIT panel was established in July 2011 to determine if the Ontario regulations are in contravention. Now that the AIT panel has ruled that the regulations in question are unfair, Ontario has until April 15, 2012, to comply with the ruling. If Ontario remains in breach of the AIT ruling, it could face penalties of up to $5 million.
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For more information, contact:
Joanne Johnson
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-787-7967
Email: joanne.johnson@enterprisesask.ca