Ontario Labour Mobility Act
Are you an Early Childhood Educator from another Canadian province or territory and wish to join the College of Early Childhood Educators?
The purpose of the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, 2009 (OLMA) is to eliminate or reduce measures that restrict the ability of an individual who is practicing an equivalent scope of practice for an occupation in another jurisdiction to obtain a Certificate of Registration in Ontario when the individual is already certified in the same occupation by a regulatory authority of another Canadian province or territory.
What is the OLMA?
The OLMA was established to make it easier for professionals to move across Canada. It establishes a Labour Mobility Code that governs how Ontario regulators, including the College of Early Childhood Educators (the College), support mobility for out-of-province workers who are already certified by a regulatory authority in the same occupation.
The Labour Mobility Code ensures that workers who are certified to practise by a regulatory authority in one province or territory will be able to be certified in the same occupation in Ontario without having to complete additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments; reducing barriers for those who wish to move freely throughout the country while continuing to practice their regulated profession.
Now that the OLMA is in force, it overrides provisions in any other Act, regulation or by-law that conflict with the Labour Mobility Code.
What does it mean for the College of Early Childhood Educators?
The College has changed its registration process for out-of-province workers who are already certified in the same occupation by a regulatory authority of another Canadian province or territory. The College will not require these applicants to undergo additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments to meet the education requirement for registration.
These applicants must still meet all other requirements for registration, including proof of language fluency, payment of an application fee, providing evidence of good character, providing evidence from the regulatory authority of the province or territory in which the applicant is certified that the licence or certificate is in good standing, and other supporting documents or information as required by the College.
The College may refuse to register an applicant certified by a regulatory authority of another province or territory or may impose terms, conditions or limitations on the applicant’s Certificate of Registration under certain circumstances set out in the Labour Mobility Code. For example, these measures can be taken if, in the College’s opinion, such action is necessary to protect the public interest as a result of complaints or criminal, disciplinary or other proceedings against the individual in any jurisdiction, whether in or outside Canada, relating to the individual’s competency, conduct or character.
What does it mean for applicants to the College who are certified by a regulatory authority of another province or territory?
If you are an out-of-province worker who holds a valid licence or certificate granted by a regulatory authority of another Canadian province or territory that is considered a match to the Certificate of Registration issued by the College, you are able to apply for registration with the College and will not be required to complete additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments. All other standard requirements of registration still apply.
The following list sets out the licences or certificates, granted by a regulatory authority of the provinces or territories indicated below, which are considered a match to the Certificate of Registration issued by the College:
- Alberta: Level 3 Early Childhood Educator (formerly Child Development Supervisor)
- British Columbia: Early Childhood Educator – Infant Toddler Educator &/or Special Needs Educator
- Saskatchewan: Early Childhood Educator Level III (under review)
- Manitoba: Early Childhood Educator Level II or III
- Newfoundland and Labrador: Child Care Services Levels 2, 3, 4
- Nova Scotia: Level 2 Classification (based on Diploma) or Level 3 Classification
- Prince Edward Island: Early Childhood Educator
- Yukon Territory: Early Childhood Educator Level 3
What does it mean for members of the College of Early Childhood Educators?
If you are already registered as a member of the College, your status and process for renewing your membership are not affected by the OLMA.
The Certificate of Registration issued to you by the College will make it easier for you to be certified in another Canadian province or territory without having to complete additional material training, experience, examinations or assessments. This would make it easier for you to relocate to another province or territory in Canada.