Background
The Agreement on Internal Trade was signed by provincial and territorial governments
in 1996. Chapter 7 of that
agreement deals with Labour Mobility, and outlines the requirement for
professionals to develop means to ensure that the principles outlined in the
chapter are met by their licensing practices and policies.
The CCLS took on an administrative role to assist the surveyor's
associations in Canada to meet their obligations under the chapter by the July 1,
2001 deadline.
Accomplishments
The CCLS applied for and received funding from HRDC to put together a consortium and
a process through which the eleven surveyor's associations could negotiate a
Memorandum of Understanding under the labour Mobility Chapter of the Agreement
on Internal Trade. Then President
Philip Milo chaired the consortium and administration was provided by the
Executive Director. All Associations
provided representatives for the consortium and participated in the negotiation
process. A signing ceremony for the
Mutual Recognition Agreement (MRA)
was held at the annual meeting
of Ordre des arpenteurs-géomètres du Québec
on June 16, 2001.
The licensing bodies of all the land surveying associations in Canada
have signed the agreement.
Continuing Efforts
Under the following two sections of the MRA a monitoring group is to be set up.
5.1
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Each association agrees to identify a contact person(s) for each
association to monitor and assess the implementation of the agreement within
their association and to participate in a group made up of all association
contact persons to address inquires, disputes, or questions arising from the
implementation or application of the agreement.
5.3
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Each association agrees that this agreement is a dynamic and evolving
instrument that may be amended with the consent of all associations.
The association agrees to initiate periodic reviews of this agreement
every year after July 1, 2001 and to review the operation of the agreement when
such a request is made by one of the associations.
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The consortium members expressed the opinion that it would naturally fall to the
CCLS to assist in the process of monitoring and review by providing
administrative services to the group of representatives formed under the MRA.
It is proposed that the Executive Director, with the assistance of one or more
members of the Board or Executive Committee, would perform the following
functions in this regard:
- Maintain a listing of association representatives
for the MRA monitoring group.
- Co-ordinate the appointment of a chair for the group
on a rotating basis.
- Provide administrative assistance to the Group by
working with the Chair to circulate information between associations, set up
meetings of the group or sub-groups as required, arrange for minuting of such
meetings, and provide other services as required and as approved by the Board.
It is proposed that actual expenses for meetings be shared by the participating
associations in a manner agreed to by the monitoring group and that the CCLS not
incur significant expenses beyond the time required of the Executive Director.
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