Meeting of Federal-Provincial-Territorial Ministers Responsible for Labour

Statement on occupational safety and health harmonization

As the federal, provincial and territorial ministers responsible for labour, we have a shared priority of ensuring health and safety in the workplace. Our governments have worked together diligently in recent years, taking significant steps to ensure the safety and health of workers and to address the challenges of modern workplaces. But there is still more work to be done.

To this effect, we commit to the following:

1. Continue to identify opportunities for regulatory harmonization, including reconciling legislative, regulatory and policy measures across jurisdictions;
   
   
2. Where appropriate, endeavour to mutually recognize standards in order to remove barriers to operating between jurisdictions so long as the standards that must be met are appropriate to each jurisdiction's need;
   
   
3. To the extent practicable, take into account cross-jurisdictional consistency as a principle behind policy, regulation and legislation preparation and application; and
   
   
4. Coordinate and share information on harmonization and mutual recognition opportunities, issues and challenges.

In acknowledgement of the progress made via the memorandum of understanding between the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety, we instruct our officials to continue moving forward with the harmonization effort. This will help to ensure the safety and health of our workplaces, while fostering economic growth and stability.