the CanadaVisa Team - 21 July, 2015
A recent study by Canada's Competition Bureau found that rules that restrict who can offer professional services in Canada may go further than necessary to protect the public interest.
Studies have shown that Canada's professions are more regulated than their counterparts in other similar countries. The Competition Bureau's report recommends that regulators revise or remove some of the rules that govern certain professional accreditations.
"We understand that regulation plays a legitimate role in protecting consumers and meeting public policy goals," stated Sheridan Scott, Commissioner of Competition. "However, not all the regulations we looked at appear necessary, and removing some of these restrictions could benefit consumers and the Canadian economy."
The study outlines how to evaluate existing and proposed regulations and sets out principles to make regulation more effective. It recommends that accreditation bodies look at the current demand for professional services when making decisions about educational requirements and about opening new educational facilities. It also recommends that, for every profession, there should be a national foreign accreditation program and an agreement to allow professionals, accredited in any province, to easily move across Canada.
