Summary of Bill 14 – Act to Amend the Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act
By Sheila Mecking and Danielle Bailey-Heelan
On March 25, 2025, Bill 14 was introduced by the Acting Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour to amend the Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act which governs 50 regulatory bodies in New Brunswick.[1] The current Act’s purpose is to ensure the registration process for regulated professions are transparent, objective, impartial and fair. Bill 14 proposes changes focused on the registration process for labour mobility applicants (“LMAs”) – individuals applying to register in New Brunswick who are already registered in the same or a substantially similar regulated profession by an extra-provincial regulatory body.
Bill 14 would implement three main changes to the Act: (1) creating a separate process for registering LMAs; (2) adding new duties for regulatory bodies in handling LMAs; and (3) granting the Lieutenant-Governor in Council the power to make regulations regarding registration of LMAs. The details of how Bill 14 will impact individual regulators will be determined by regulations to follow.
Registration of labour mobility applicants:
Bill 14 intends to create a separate process for registering LMAs. A LMA must meet prescribed requirements and submit a registration document of an extra-provincial regulatory body to the regulatory body. Notably, individuals registered in professions exempted under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement cannot apply.
The regulatory body must notify LMAs of receipt of the document, and LMAs are then deemed registered to practice within a scope that matches their extra-provincial registration. If an LMA’s extra-provincial registration has a larger scope exceeding that of New Brunswick’s, they will not be deemed registered with that larger scope. LMAs must then submit their application within the prescribed time, or their deemed registration will be revoked.
After reviewing the application, the regulatory body must confirm or refuse registration. A regulatory body cannot refuse to renew an LMA’s registration solely because it is for a limited scope of practice. The Minister can review decisions made by the regulatory bodies with respect to granting or refusing registration to ensure the body is complying with the Act and regulations.
Additionally, Bill 14 provides that a LMA who knowingly provides misleading or false information to a regulatory body commits an offence.
Additional duty of regulatory bodies
Bill 14 seeks to add to regulatory bodies’ duties. Specifically, Bill 14 would create a duty that regulatory bodies comply with the requirements of the Act and the regulations relating to the registration of LMAs.
Additional regulation-making powers:
Bill 14 would expand the Lieutenant-Governor in Council’s regulation-making power with respect to the registration of LMAs. Particularly, regulations may be made respecting the requirements and procedure related to LMAs and respecting additional rules that may apply to LMAs registered to practice in New Brunswick.
[1] Fair Registration Practices in Regulated Professions Act, SNB 2022, c 39.
This client update is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions about the above, please contact the authors.
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