🍁 civid v1

Purpose and scope

• Bill C-266 would require the Minister of Employment and Social Development to develop a national framework to reduce barriers to skilled trades workers working across provincial boundaries.
• It was introduced at first reading on March 11, 2026.
• The bill covers trades certified or otherwise regulated by a province, including trades with Red Seal endorsements or Blue Seal business competency certification.

National framework

• The minister would have to consult relevant stakeholders for at least nine months, including provincial governments, regulators, employers, unions, apprenticeship organizations, Indigenous bodies and training institutions.
• The framework would have to list skilled trades across Canada, compare and map equivalent provincial standards and credentials, and include measures to:
  • Harmonize standards and credentials and reduce duplication in recognition processes.
  • Modernize certification for new technologies, industry standards and emerging trades.
  • Support ongoing collaboration and promote awareness of skilled trades.
• The bill’s preamble recognizes provincial and territorial jurisdiction over training, certification and labour-market regulation. The bill requires a framework; it does not itself harmonize credentials or amend existing certification rules.

Reporting and review

• Within one year after the Act comes into force, the minister would have to prepare a report setting out the framework and table it in each House of Parliament within the specified sitting-day period.
• Progress reports would be required within one year after the framework report is tabled and annually thereafter. They would cover implementation, mobility, harmonization, provincial collaboration and the framework’s effectiveness.
• Each report would have to be published on the department’s website within 30 days after being tabled in both Houses.
• Within five years after the Act comes into force, a designated parliamentary committee would have to undertake a comprehensive review. The committee would generally have one year after starting the review to report, subject to an authorized extension.

Costs and existing law

• The provided text does not specify funding or costs, or amend another Act.