ntario’s Labour Minister, David Piccini, was recently designated by provincial premiers and labour ministers across the country to lead a national effort to dismantle barriers to labour mobility and harmonize construction safety standards.
The goal is clear: ensure skilled workers can go where they are needed while adopting the highest safety standards so every job is done right, and most importantly, performed safely.
In a country as vast and economically interconnected as Canada, that should already be the norm. Instead, outdated recertification rules and uneven regulatory frameworks have made it harder for skilled tradespeople to move between provinces, slowing projects, raising costs and limiting opportunity for workers.
Ontario’s collaborative leadership is changing that.
Canada is entering a defining decade for infrastructure, housing, energy and industrial renewal. From nuclear refurbishment and grid expansion to transit, health care and housing construction, the demand for skilled labour is rising faster than any single province can supply.
That makes labour mobility not just a workforce issue, but an economic one.
A tradesperson trained and certified in one province should not face unnecessary barriers to working in another. When skilled workers are blocked by redundant testing or paperwork, projects are delayed, costs rise and Canadians feel the impact in everything from housing affordability to energy reliability.
Ontario has chosen a smarter path.
By advancing mutual recognition of credentials and working with provincial partners to align safety standards, the province is eliminating duplication while strengthening worker protections. It respects the professionalism of tradespeople and recognizes a simple truth: skills travel with the worker.
For LiUNA members, this matters deeply. Our members build and maintain the backbone of Canada’s economy; highways, hospitals, power plants, water systems, homes and everything between. These projects increasingly span provinces, requiring workers to follow the work. A system that allows a qualified labourer from Manitoba or Nova Scotia to step onto an Ontario jobsite without bureaucratic delay means more opportunity for workers and faster delivery for Canadians.
Just as important is safety harmonization.
Construction and industrial work is demanding. Workers deserve clear, consistent standards that protect them no matter where they are working. When provinces operate under different safety rules, confusion increases and risk follows. Harmonized standards ensure every worker knows what is required to stay safe and succeed on the job.
Harmonization does not mean lowering standards. The contrary. It means applying the highest standards everywhere.
The benefits extend far beyond construction. Canada’s competitiveness depends on how quickly and efficiently we can deliver major projects. Labour shortages, credential bottlenecks and inconsistent training slow growth and discourage investment. A mobile, well-protected workforce attracts talent, strengthens productivity and supports long-term economic stability.
Ontario understands this. As it moves forward with major investments in energy, transit, manufacturing and housing, it is ensuring workers are not trapped behind outdated regulatory walls. It is treating labour mobility as what it truly is: economic infrastructure.
Canada does not need 13 separate labour markets. It needs one integrated workforce that can respond to where demand is highest. Provinces should follow Ontario’s lead by harmonizing health and safety credentials, aligning safety training and removing unnecessary red tape that stalls opportunity for skilled workers.
The impact would be transformational: more opportunity for workers, faster project delivery, safer jobsites and a stronger national economy. It means tradespeople can build their careers, earn more and help deliver the projects Canada needs, without being stalled by needless barriers.
That is why this approach has been unanimously endorsed by the Canadian Building Trades, representing more than 600,000 construction workers across 14 international unions working in over 60 skilled trades and occupations, generating six per cent of Canada’s GDP.
LiUNA, Canada’s largest building trades union, represents more than 160,000 workers who turn plans into reality every day. From hospitals and transit lines to energy projects and housing, our members are the backbone of nation-building. When governments remove barriers and invest in workers, our members — present and future — show up and deliver.
Ontario is proving that modernizing labour mobility and harmonizing safety standards is not only possible, it is essential to attracting talent, growing opportunity and building the workforce Canada needs for the future.
The time to build is now. LiUNA members are ready.
Source: https://canada.constructconnect.com/dcn/news/labour/2026/01/industry-perspectives-op-ed-why-ontarios-labour-mobility-leadership-matters