Labour Market Ministers taking action to improve labour mobility in Canada
GATINEAU, QC, May 28, 2025 /CNW/ - Federal, provincial and territorial Forum of Labour Market Ministers (FLMM) met virtually on Monday to discuss progress on their joint commitment to breaking down barriers to labour mobility as one of the strategies to mitigate the negative effects of tariffs and unlock the full economic potential of free trade within Canada. The meeting was co-chaired by the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister of Jobs and Families and the Honourable Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration of Nova Scotia.
Over recent months, the FLMM has accelerated efforts to address labour mobility barriers, strengthen Canada's workforce and get individuals working faster. Ministers agreed that concrete progress has been made on labour mobility, with some jurisdictions having introduced legislation with more ambitious timelines and launched new initiatives to further break down barriers and reduce administrative burden.
Ministers agreed on the actions to be taken by governments to build a more resilient, adaptable and mobile workforce to support stronger domestic economic growth.
This aligns with a commitment made to the First Ministers earlier this year, to collaborate with the Committee on Internal Trade (CIT) on developing a plan for Canada-wide credential recognition that takes into account the unique characteristics of each jurisdiction, such as language provisions, by June 1, 2025. Ministers look forward to providing the CIT with an update on their action plan for labour mobility.
Ministers discussed the value of conducting consultations to determine the best approach while continuing to explore additional opportunities to bolster economic growth, productivity and support for workers. Ministers also discussed possible collaboration with other ministerial tables to tackle areas linked to labour mobility, such as occupational health and safety training and licensing.
Ministers committed to continued information sharing across orders of government and to meet regularly as part of their focused efforts to build a resilient Canadian workforce and economy.
Finally, Ministers reiterated the vital role of Labour Market Transfer Agreements (LMTAs), which empower the provinces and territories to deliver tailored employment assistance and reskilling services that respond to the unique needs of their respective labour markets. Provincial and territorial ministers reaffirmed their position on the need for additional LMTA funding to support workers in Canada and ensure effective tariff-related responses at this critical time.
The federal minister committed to further discussions with provincial and territorial ministers on LMTA modernization.
About the Forum
The FLMM was established in 1983 as an intergovernmental forum aimed at strengthening cooperation on federal, provincial and territorial labour market priorities.
"To build one Canadian economy, we need to make it easier for workers in every province and territory to find good jobs. Canada's labour market ministers agree. We can do more and faster—and today, we set out to do that together."
- The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Federal Minister of Jobs and Families, and Co-Chair of the FLMM
"By strengthening labour mobility and breaking down barriers to credential recognition, we can help Canadians get to work faster—no matter where their skills are needed. This kind of collaboration is key to building a more resilient workforce and supporting long-term prosperity across the country."
- Honourable Nolan Young, Minister of Labour, Skills and Immigration of Nova Scotia and Co-Chair of the FLMM.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Globe and Mail
35 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Intuit offers to pay interest, penalties for Ontario families affected by TurboTax snafu
Intuit Inc. INTU-Q is offering to reimburse Ontario families affected by an issue with its TurboTax software for interest and penalties imposed by the Canada Revenue Agency. Many working parents with young children in Ontario say they face thousands of dollars in overdue taxes and interest after they incorrectly claimed the province's child care tax credit using TurboTax, in some cases for several years. In e-mails sent to affected customers this week, U.S.-based Intuit said it would cover the cost of interest and penalties as a 'gesture of good will,' even though the problem isn't related to a tax calculation error by its software. The company also reiterated a previous offer to reimburse users for the cost of the tax-filing program. 'We value our customers, and we have listened carefully to the concerns expressed,' Rick Heineman, vice-president of communications at Intuit, said via e-mail. But some users wonder whether accepting the money will affect their ability to participate in a proposed class-action lawsuit against Intuit and its Canadian subsidiary. Andrew Van Vroenhoven, of Whitby, Ont., said his family is being asked to repay around $21,000 in taxes and interest. He called Intuit's decision 'a step in the right direction.' But also said he would need more information before deciding whether to take Intuit up on its offer. Mr. Van Vroenhoven, who has three children under the age of 13, including one with a severe disability, also said he wasn't sure whether he and his wife could or should take the cash since they have applied for interest relief from the CRA. At the centre of the controversy is a counterintuitive set of prompts in a desktop version of the TurboTax software meant for advanced users. According to materials reviewed by The Globe, the program is designed to apply by default for the Ontario tax credit based on the income of the lower-earning parent. But the software does not also automatically account for the income of the second parent, which users must type in manually, if applicable. Without adding the earnings of a second eligible parent, a family can receive amounts of the Ontario child care tax credit to which they aren't entitled. Until recently, the program also failed to alert users to the possible, costly mistake. TurboTax usually highlights potential issues that require additional review before customers file their tax returns. But for tax years prior to 2024, the advanced desktop version of the program didn't flag their Ontario child tax credit claim even if the users' combined income was higher than the maximum eligible for the credit. The Ontario tax credit allows families with a household income of up to $150,000 to claim part of their annual child care expenses. Eligible recipients can get up to $6,000 for each child under the age of seven, up to $3,750 per older child up to the age of 16, and up to $8,250 for a child with a severe disability. Many TurboTax users in Ontario said they recently received reassessments from the CRA related to the tax credit, including thousands of dollars in interest on their tax debt. Intuit had previously declined requests to pay for users' interest and penalty charges, saying they didn't qualify under its accuracy guarantee policy, which only covers issues caused by calculation errors. Mr. Heineman reiterated on Thursday that the child credit issue does not fall under the terms of that guarantee. However, he said, Intuit had decided to reimburse affected customers 'in recognition of the inconvenience this situation may have caused.' The move comes after London, Ont.-based law firm Foreman & Company filed a proposed class action lawsuit against Intuit over the child credit issue in Toronto on May 5. 'The concern is that when a company like Intuit goes out directly to consumers with what is effectively a legal offer, something that affects their legal and practical rights, there can be a lot of confusion and a lack of clarity around what it means for their rights,' Jonathan Foreman, founder and partner at the firm, said. Mr. Heineman said Intuit won't ask customers who accept the reimbursement to sign any releases related to the proposed class action. However, he added, the goodwill offer 'is not an admission of any fault, error, or liability on the part of Intuit.'
Toronto Sun
35 minutes ago
- Toronto Sun
Carney and Li agree to regularize communication between Canada and China
Published Jun 06, 2025 • 1 minute read Prime Minister Mark Carney listens to a journalist's question during a press conference on Parliament Hill following the Cabinet Policy Forum, in Ottawa on May 21, 2025. Photo by DAVE CHAN / AFP via Getty Images OTTAWA — Prime Minister Mark Carney and Chinese Premier Li Qiang have agreed to regularize channels of communication between the two countries. This advertisement has not loaded yet, but your article continues below. THIS CONTENT IS RESERVED FOR SUBSCRIBERS ONLY Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. SUBSCRIBE TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Subscribe now to read the latest news in your city and across Canada. Unlimited online access to articles from across Canada with one account. Get exclusive access to the Toronto Sun ePaper, an electronic replica of the print edition that you can share, download and comment on. Enjoy insights and behind-the-scenes analysis from our award-winning journalists. Support local journalists and the next generation of journalists. Daily puzzles including the New York Times Crossword. REGISTER / SIGN IN TO UNLOCK MORE ARTICLES Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account. Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments. Enjoy additional articles per month. Get email updates from your favourite authors. THIS ARTICLE IS FREE TO READ REGISTER TO UNLOCK. Create an account or sign in to continue with your reading experience. Access articles from across Canada with one account Share your thoughts and join the conversation in the comments Enjoy additional articles per month Get email updates from your favourite authors Don't have an account? Create Account A readout from Carney's office also says the leaders committed to working together to address the fentanyl crisis. Canada and China have been involved in a trade dispute. China has imposed tariffs on Canadian canola oil and meal, peas and seafood in retaliation to Canadian levies on Chinese-made electric vehicles, steel and aluminum. In his conversation with Li, Carney raised the issue of trade affecting agriculture and agri-food products, including canola and seafood, as well as other issues. Carney said earlier this week that Ottawa is working urgently to remove Chinese tariffs on Canadian agriculture and seafood products. Sunshine Girls Sunshine Girls Toronto & GTA Olympics Toronto & GTA
Globe and Mail
35 minutes ago
- Globe and Mail
Canada can't solve its housing crisis without the provinces
Mike Moffatt is the founding director of the Missing Middle Initiative. Lisa Raitt is the co-chair of the Task Force for Housing and Climate and a former minister of transport, labour and natural resources. Canada is facing a housing crisis of historic proportions. To restore affordability, the country needs to build 5.8 million new homes by 2030. That means doubling the current rate of housing starts – an ambitious goal set by Prime Minister Mark Carney during the federal election campaign. It's a promise that will define his leadership, and one he'll be under intense pressure to deliver on. But no single order of government can solve Canada's housing crisis alone. While the federal government sets the tone and provides funding tools, the provinces hold many of the most important policy levers. If they don't act boldly, they risk becoming the bottleneck in Canada's efforts to boost supply, improve affordability and build housing that aligns with climate goals and can withstand extreme weather. The federal government has taken meaningful steps, including the promise to launch a Build Canada Homes entity and reinstate a 1970s-era tax incentive to spur rental apartment construction. It has also removed GST from new rental builds and made federal land available for housing. These are important changes – but their impact will be limited unless provinces get moving. In some provinces, we've seen positive momentum toward building density: British Columbia's reform allowing multiple units per lot and Ontario's recent relaxation of parking minimums are helpful steps. Inside the crisis facing Canada's dysfunctional housing market Tony Keller: Build, baby, build: Canada used to know how to do that Although both provinces have introduced reforms, these measures have been neutralized by skyrocketing development charges and sluggish approval timelines. As a result, housing starts in both provinces dropped more than 30 per cent in the first quarter of 2025 compared to the previous year. Municipalities, for their part, are largely 'creatures of the province,' and the decisions they make must be compliant with provincial regulations, such as Ontario's Development Charges Act. Some have begun to implement long-overdue zoning reforms. Some have acted independently, while others were encouraged to do so through the federal Housing Accelerator Fund. These initiatives show promise – but are frequently undermined by provincial inaction or contradictory policies. Fortunately, governments don't have to start from scratch. In 2024, the Task Force for Housing and Climate – composed of 15 housing and policy experts, including former Edmonton mayor Don Iveson and Mr. Carney (he's no longer a member) – published a comprehensive roadmap: Blueprint for More and Better Housing. It outlines more than 140 actionable recommendations across all levels of government to boost supply, deliver affordability, and build homes resilient to climate impacts. This year, the Task Force followed up with a report card grading federal and provincial governments on their performance. The federal government earned a B, praised for its recent initiatives but urged to improve transparency in programs like the Housing Accelerator and to launch a national hazard mapping initiative to prevent building in flood- and fire-prone areas. For the provinces, it's a different story. No province scored higher than a C+, with high fees, slow approvals and inconsistent reforms holding housing back. Among the provinces, Prince Edward Island earned among the highest marks for reforms that have boosted housing supply. However, the province still needs to do more to ensure new homes meet energy and climate-resilience standards. British Columbia introduced some of the country's boldest reforms, but its overall impact is undercut by rising municipal fees and glacial approval processes. Ontario, despite Premier Doug Ford's public opposition to fourplexes, has quietly legalized more density than most provinces and promised to launch a housing innovation fund. But volatile policymaking, persistent delays in the Greater Toronto Area, and the highest development charges in North America have led to low housing starts and, accordingly, a middling grade of C. If Canada is serious about tackling the housing crisis, now is the time for leadership, especially at the provincial level. We already know what works. The policy solutions are well understood and widely supported. What's missing is the political will to implement them. The housing crisis is not just a federal problem, or a municipal one. It is a national challenge – and solving it requires co-ordination and commitment from all three levels of government. The provinces hold many of the keys to housing, and need to act soon to help unlock supply.
