C-266 · National Framework on Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Act
An Act to establish a national framework respecting skilled trades and labour mobility
- Creates a national framework for recognizing skilled trades across Canada.
- Harmonizes credential recognition and reduces barriers for interprovincial skilled trades workers.
- Consults with diverse stakeholders, including governments, unions, and educational institutions.
This part of the bill requires the Minister of Employment and Social Development to create a national framework aimed at improving recognition and mobility of skilled trades workers across provinces in Canada.
This matters because it aims to reduce barriers for skilled trades workers, potentially leading to better job opportunities and economic growth across the country. It also seeks to modernize certification processes to keep pace with industry needs.
The bill addresses the fragmentation and inconsistencies in skilled trades certification and recognition across different provinces, which can hinder workers from moving and working freely.
Skilled trades workers stand to benefit as the framework aims to simplify their ability to have their credentials recognized in different provinces.
The tradeoff involves an increased federal role in regulating skilled trades, which may limit provincial autonomy over certification and could face pushback from regional governments concerned about losing control over their own regulatory processes.
Read the actual text (6)
1This Act may be cited as the National Framework on Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Act .
2The following definitions apply in this Act. Minister means the Minister of Employment and Social Development. ( ministre ) skilled trade means any trade that is recognized as a certified or otherwise regulated trade by any province, including any trade for which an endorsement can be obtained under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program or a certification for Achievement in Business Competencies can be obtained under a Blue Seal program. ( métier spécialisé )
3(1) The Minister must develop a national framework respecting skilled trades and labour mobility to reduce barriers that prevent skilled trades workers from working interprovincially by modernizing, streamlining and harmonizing skilled trades certification processes and credentials across Canada. Consultations (2) In developing the national framework, the Minister must hold consultations for at least nine months with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of (a) provincial governments; (b) skilled trades regulatory bodies; (c) industry and employer associations; (d) labour unions and apprenticeship organizations; (e) Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations; and (f) training and education institutions, such as colleges. Contents (3) The national framework must (a) include a complete list of skilled trades across Canada; (b) compare, assess and map equivalencies between provincial standards and credentials for skilled trades; and (c) include measures to (i) harmonize those standards and credentials across Canada, (ii) reduce duplication and streamline regulatory processes in relation to obtaining skilled trade credentials or having them recognized from one province to another, (iii) support the modernization of certification processes to reflect new technologies, industry standards and emerging trades, (iv) support ongoing collaboration with provinces, Indigenous communities, unions, employers, training institutions and regulatory bodies, and (v) promote public awareness of and respect for skilled trades and their economic importance.
4(1) Within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the national framework and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication (2) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of Employment and Social Development within 30 days after the day on which it is tabled in both Houses of Parliament.
5(1) Within one year after the day on which the report is tabled under subsection 4(1), and every year after that, the Minister must prepare a progress report and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Contents (2) Each progress report must contain (a) information on the progress made towards (i) implementing the national framework, (ii) improving skilled trades mobility throughout Canada, and (iii) harmonizing, from one province to another, and modernizing skilled trades certification processes and credentials, as well as improving recognition for skilled trades; (b) outcomes of collaboration and consultations with provincial governments; and (c) a review of the effectiveness of the framework, including the Minister’s conclusions and recommendations in respect of any updates or revisions to the national framework that the Minister considers appropriate. Publication (3) The Minister must publish each progress report on the website of the Department of Employment and Social Development within 30 days after the day on which it is tabled in both Houses of Parliament.
6(1) Within five years after the day on which this Act comes into force, a comprehensive review of the national framework must be undertaken by the committee of the Senate, of the House of Commons or of both Houses of Parliament that is designated or established for that purpose. Report (2) The committee must, within a year after the review is undertaken — or within any further period that the Senate, the House of Commons or both Houses of Parliament, as the case may be, authorize — submit a report on the review to the appropriate House, or in the case of a committee of both Houses, to each House, that includes a statement of any changes to the national framework that the committee recommends.
Official drafter summary (parl.ca)
This enactment provides for the development of a national framework for the recognition of skilled trades, harmonization of credential recognition and mobility of skilled trades workers in Canada. Available on the House of Commons website at the following address: www.ourcommons.ca 1st Session, 45th Parliament, 3 - 4 Charles III, 2025 - 2026 HOUSE OF COMMONS OF CANADA BILL C-266 An Act to establish a national framework respecting skilled trades and labour mobility Preamble Whereas the movement of skilled labour across Canada is essential to the country’s economic development, productivity, infrastructure delivery and competitiveness; Whereas regulatory barriers, as well as inconsistencies between certification processes across provinces and territories, hinder the mobility of skilled trades workers and delay national development priorities, including housing construction, transportation infrastructure, energy projects and innovation capacity; Whereas Parliament recognizes the importance of modernizing, harmonizing and streamlining credential recognition for skilled trades across the country while respecting provincial and territorial jurisdiction over training, certification and labour market regulation; And whereas Parliament believes that strengthening recognition and portability in skilled trades will build Canada’s workforce capacity and contribute to a stronger and more resilient national economy; Now, therefore, His Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Senate and House of Commons of Canada, enacts as follows: Short Title Short title 1 This Act may be cited as the National Framework on Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Act . Interpretation Definitions 2 The following definitions apply in this Act. Minister means the Minister of Employment and Social Development. ( ministre ) skilled trade means any trade that is recognized as a certified or otherwise regulated trade by any province, including any trade for which an endorsement can be obtained under the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program or a certification for Achievement in Business Competencies can be obtained under a Blue Seal program. ( métier spécialisé ) National Framework Respecting Skilled Trades and Labour Mobility Development of national framework 3 ( 1 ) The Minister must develop a national framework respecting skilled trades and labour mobility to reduce barriers that prevent skilled trades workers from working interprovincially by modernizing, streamlining and harmonizing skilled trades certification processes and credentials across Canada. Consultations ( 2 ) In developing the national framework, the Minister must hold consultations for at least nine months with relevant stakeholders, including representatives of (a) provincial governments; (b) skilled trades regulatory bodies; (c) industry and employer associations; (d) labour unions and apprenticeship organizations; (e) Indigenous governing bodies and Indigenous organizations; and (f) training and education institutions, such as colleges. Contents ( 3 ) The national framework must (a) include a complete list of skilled trades across Canada; (b) compare, assess and map equivalencies between provincial standards and credentials for skilled trades; and (c) include measures to (i) harmonize those standards and credentials across Canada, (ii) reduce duplication and streamline regulatory processes in relation to obtaining skilled trade credentials or having them recognized from one province to another, (iii) support the modernization of certification processes to reflect new technologies, industry standards and emerging trades, (iv) support ongoing collaboration with provinces, Indigenous communities, unions, employers, training institutions and regulatory bodies, and (v) promote public awareness of and respect for skilled trades and their economic importance. Reports to Parliament Tabling of national framework 4 ( 1 ) Within one year after the day on which this Act comes into force, the Minister must prepare a report setting out the national framework and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Publication ( 2 ) The Minister must publish the report on the website of the Department of Employment and Social Development within 30 days after the day on which it is tabled in both Houses of Parliament. Progress reports 5 ( 1 ) Within one year after the day on which the report is tabled under subsection 4 ( 1 ), and every year after that, the Minister must prepare a progress report and cause it to be tabled in each House of Parliament on any of the first 15 days on which that House is sitting after the report is completed. Contents ( 2 ) Each progress report must contain (a) information on the progress made towards (i) implementing the national framework, (ii) improving skilled trades mobility throughout Canada, and <p ext:n="
- Disagreement on federal overreach vs. provincial jurisdiction
- Concerns about the effectiveness of the proposed national framework
- Differing views on the root causes of skilled worker shortages
- Differing opinions on the government's previous handling of trade and labour issues
The Liberals generally supported the bill, while the Bloc and Conservatives raised concerns about federal intervention in provincial matters.
- First reading (House of Commons)Mar 11, 2026