New bill aims to speed up certifications for more than 100 professions

The Alberta government wants organizations that regulate physicians, lawyers and about 100 other professions to approve the credentials of workers from other provinces within 20 working days.

The requirement is proposed in Bill 49, the Labour Mobility Act, which was introduced in the legislature on Monday.

The government says applications submitted by professionals can sometimes be delayed which hurts Alberta businesses. Premier Jason Kenney says the bill sends a message to regulatory bodies in the province. 

"You can't sit on the file for more than a month," Kenney said.

Labour and Immigration Minister Tyler Shandro said the legislation will smooth the path for professionals from other provinces to work in Alberta.

"The act will make Alberta the first and the only jurisdiction in Canada to legislate timelines for registration decisions," Shandro told a news conference.

"Regulatory authorities will be required to look at applicants and give registration decisions within 20 [working] days.

"And that means that if someone is certified as a professional and they submit the necessary documents and they meet all of the requirements, they can expect to get to work within one month, upon applying."

Regulators would also be required to publish information on fees and what documentation is required in Alberta on their web sites.

They would also need to set up a timely review process and keep a record of decisions for three years. 

The bill proposes maximum fines of $25,000 for individuals and $50,000 for organizations that fail to meet the new deadline.

The government plans to work with regulators to ensure they have the capacity to meet the timelines before proclaiming the bill into law. Officials say they were consulted prior to the bill's introduction.