Bill 30, Access to Occupations Act, 1999

Versions

Bill 30

Bill 301999

An Act to ensure the recognition in Ontario of credentials obtained outside Ontario

Her Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Legislative Assembly of the Province of Ontario, enacts as follows:

Purpose

1. The purpose of this Act is to recognize that Ontario residents with occupational credentials obtained outside Ontario should be able to have those credentials fairly and systematically assessed, and to practise their occupation in Ontario if their credentials are found to be equivalent to those obtained in the province.

Application

2. This Act applies with respect to all occupational credentials.

Agency

3. (1) The Credentials Assessment Agency is established as a body corporate without share capital.

Mandate

(2) The Agency has the mandate of providing comprehensive and bias-free services for the assessment of occupational credentials obtained outside Ontario.

Assessment

4. (1) The Credentials Assessment Agency shall, on the request of a person who is entitled to reside in Ontario and has occupational credentials obtained outside Ontario,

(a)assess the credentials; and

(b)make a finding as to whether they are at least equivalent to specified credentials obtained in Ontario.

Certificate

(2) If the Agency finds that a person's credentials are at least equivalent to specified credentials obtained in Ontario, it shall issue a certificate to that effect.

Effect of equivalency finding

(3) A person to whom a certificate has been issued under subsection (2) has the same rights as if he or she had obtained the specified credentials in Ontario.

Rights prevail

(4) Subsection (3) applies for all purposes and despite any other law of Ontario.

Regulations

5. (1) The Lieutenant Governor in Council may make regulations,

(a)governing the membership and powers of the Credentials Assessment Agency;

(b)governing the manner in which the Agency assesses credentials and makes findings under subsection 4 (1);

(c)governing the funding of the Agency;

(d)prescribing fees to be charged by the Agency for assessments and certificates;

(e)providing for any other matters the Lieutenant Governor in Council considers necessary or desirable in connection with the implementation of this Act.

General or specific

(2) A regulation made under clause (1) (b) or (d) may be general or specific.

Commencement

6. This Act comes into force on a day to be named by proclamation of the Lieutenant Governor.

Short title

7. The short title of this Act is the Access to Occupations Act, 1999.

EXPLANATORY NOTE

The Bill establishes a Credentials Assessment Agency with the mandate of assessing occupational credentials obtained outside Ontario. A person whose occupational credentials were obtained outside Ontario may have them assessed by the Agency. If they are found to be at least equivalent to specified credentials obtained in Ontario, the person has the same rights as if he or she had obtained the specified credentials in Ontario.