Certified General Accountants applaud movement on labour mobility and resolving disputes 

Canada’s Certified General Accountants (CGAs) congratulate the Council of the Federation for achieving agreement on the long-standing issues of labour mobility and interprovincial trade. Their recent agreement at the council’s meeting in Quebec City recognizes that unimpeded labour mobility and an effective dispute resolution mechanism are vital to Canada’s economic growth.

“This agreement demonstrates leadership and vision on the part of the premiers and will contribute to improved Canadian productivity and competitiveness,” said Anthony Ariganello, President and CEO of the Certified General Accountants Association of Canada (CGA-Canada). “We look forward to working with governments in realizing the objectives agreed to in Quebec City.”

Amendments to the Agreement on Internal Trade (AIT), expected by January 1, will lead to full labour mobility for workers and professionals, except where protection of public health or safety justify barriers. They will also provide for an effective dispute resolution mechanism, including monetary penalties.

CGA-Canada has advocated for improved internal trade and labour mobility for many years and has gained first-hand experience in the severe deficiencies of the existing AIT’s dispute resolution mechanism. The association was joined recently by nine other leading business, industry and professional associations to form a coalition to advocate for improved interprovincial trade and mobility.

The association cautions, however, that there remain outstanding issues that concern Canada’s CGAs. For example, despite legislation to remove monopolies to public accounting in some provinces, realization of that objective nationally has progressed slowly.

“The intention of the council’s agreement is admirable, but we must ensure that new barriers to labour mobility are not introduced in the process,” said Ariganello. “There still remains the opportunity for special interests to erect barriers that are not in the public interest.”

Under the agreement, mutual recognition of occupational credentials between all provinces and territories is to be achieved by next summer’s meeting of the council.