NEWS: Harper to impose TILMA-like provisions by April 1, 2009
June 7, 2007
Dear activists,
As reported in a Canadian Press article on CBC.ca (as well as the Toronto Star, the Globe and Mail, the London Free Press and other newspapers), "The federal government is poised to tell the provinces that they must...mutually recognize a worker's occupational qualifications by default if they can't reconcile differences by April 1, 2009. It includes a binding dispute settlement mechanism and penalties of up to $5 million for non-compliance. And it dovetails with the labour mobility provisions in last year's free trade (TILMA) agreement between Alberta and British Columbia."
The article also notes, "The provinces will get a similar message from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce, the largest business group in the country, which is making a rare presentation to the ministerial meeting in support of free trade within Canada...The chamber will recommend that provinces negotiate deals similar to the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA) signed by B.C. and Alberta in 2006."
As I reported to you back on March 19, Chapter 5 of "Budget 2007" states that the Harper government is, "Committing to work with interested provinces/territories to examine how the Alberta-British Columbia Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement could be applied more broadly. This will help build our economic union and promote the free flow of people and goods within Canada...Artificial barriers to labour mobility can make it difficult for firms to find the skilled labour they need. Other impediments to internal trade can raise business costs and reduce competition. The federal government is committed to building on (the) momentum (of TILMA) and will work with interested provinces and territories to examine how the TILMA provisions could be applied more broadly to reduce interprovincial barriers to trade and labour mobility across the country."
For information on our upcoming six-city cross-Ontario speaking tour to stop TILMA, June 18 to June 23, please click here.
Further reading:
Brent Patterson, Director of Organizing, The Council
of Canadians
