Ontario's Regulated Professions Improving Their Registration Procedures: Fairness Commissioner issues second annual report

Ontario's Regulated Professions Improving Their Registration Procedures:
Fairness Commissioner issues second annual report

Toronto – August 25, 2009

Hon. Jean Augustine, Ontario's Fairness Commissioner, reports the beginnings of systemic change to improve access to the professions in her second annual report ( PDF 2.5 MB) about the state of registration and licensing in the regulated professions.

In it, she outlines the progress made by regulatory bodies in creating transparent, objective, impartial and fair registration for people who want to enter the professions.

In 2008-2009, for the first time in Canada, regulators had to submit details about their requirements and procedures. This information is pivotal to the Commissioner’s ability to decide whether registration is fair.

The annual report ( PDF 2.5 MB) outlines the changes proposed by 16 of Ontario's 36 regulatory bodies in 2008-2009. It also lists the regulators that have undergone audits to determine whether they are meeting the requirements of Ontario’s fair access laws.

Quotes

“I'm pleased to see the signs of positive systemic change, change that reflects the values of Ontarians.”

“With our leadership, regulators are taking action by modernizing programs, revisiting requirements and rewriting regulations about licensing.”

-Hon. Jean Augustine, PC

Quick Facts

To work in most regulated professions in Ontario, a person must register with the regulatory body for the profession.
Fair access laws cover 36 regulatory bodies.
By March 31, 2009, all 36 bodies had submitted reports about their practices and four had undergone audits.
In 2008, applications from internationally trained applicants rose slightly, after declining for three years. For the third year in a row, applications from other Canadian provinces declined.

Learn More

Learn more about the Office of the Fairness Commissioner, an independent agency of the Ontario government, its mandate and commissioner.

Further information and interview requests:
Beatrice Schriever
416 325-9511
beatrice.schriever@ontario.ca