Regulatory HR bill reintroduced in Ontario

Legislation would see members of HRPA regulated in a manner similar to accountants

The bill that would see HR professionals regulated in a manner similar to accountants in Ontario is being reintroduced in the provincial legislature.

Bill Greenhalgh, CEO of the Toronto-based Human Resources Professionals Association (HRPA), made the announcement to HRPA members in an email.

The legislation — the Registered Human Resources Professionals Act, 2013 — is being reintroduced for first reading on March 20 and will be sponsored by MPPs from three political parties: Vic Dhillon (Liberal), Christine Elliott (Progressive Conservative) and Michael Prue (NDP).

“As you are aware, HRPA and its members are currently guided by outmoded, 20-year-old plus legislation, which HRPA is seeking to update to meet the needs of the numerous workplace changes over the past two decades,” Greenhalgh said in the email to members.

The new act will give the association and its members more control over their “destiny as a profession,” Greenhalgh said, plus the ability to command a premium in the marketplace and the tools to deal with unauthorized use of the Certified Human Resources Professional (CHRP) designation.

The bill would also include HRPA in the Fair Access to Regulated Professions Act, 2006, (FARPA) as a Schedule 1 signatory. In early 2010, HRPA introduced several initiatives that have made the Association fully "FARPA-compliant."

This is the third time a bill that would regulate HR professionals in a manner similar to accountants has been introduced in the Ontario legislature.

The first attempt, Bill 138, an Act respecting the Human Ressources Professionals Association, failed to reach third reading in 2011 before the legislature adjourned for the fall election. It was a private member’s bill with one sponsor.

Last year, Bill 28, an Act respecting the Human Resources Professional Association — which was introduced as a private member’s bill with three-party support at the end of 2011 — didn’t pass before former Premier Dalton McGuinty announced his surprise resignation and suspended parliament.

Ontario has a Liberal minority government headed by Premier Kathleen Wynne.

A copy of the act will be posted on www.hrpaact.ca after March 21, according to HRPA.

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