Public Registry for Trade Certifications

Summary#

This bill changes Manitoba’s Apprenticeship and Certification law to make credentials easier to check and to protect privacy when sharing information. It creates a public online registry of people who hold trade and occupation certificates and sets limits on how much personal information can be shared.

• Creates an online registry so the public can confirm if a person is certified.
• Requires the registry to launch within 60 days after the law takes effect.
• Includes people with a certificate of qualification (proof you are certified in a trade) and those with an occupational certificate (proof you meet standards in a designated occupation).
• Lets the government add other groups and decide what details will appear in the registry through future rules.
• Defines “approved service provider” (schools, companies, or organizations under agreement) and allows sharing only the minimum personal information needed for training or services.

What it means for you#

• Workers and apprentices

  • Your name and certificate status will be listed online if you hold a trade certificate or occupational certificate.
  • You can be looked up by employers and customers, which may help you prove your qualifications quickly.
  • Only necessary personal details should be shared. The law says to keep personal information to the minimum needed.
  • If government sets new rules later, other groups covered by the Act could be added to the registry.

• Employers and contractors

  • Easier, faster way to check if a worker is properly certified before hiring or assigning work.
  • May reduce phone calls and paperwork to verify credentials.

• Consumers and homeowners

  • You can look up a plumber, electrician, or other certified worker online to confirm they are qualified.

• Training providers and schools

  • You may be recognized as an “approved service provider” if you have an agreement with the executive director.
  • You can receive or share only the minimum personal information needed to deliver training or services under the Act.

• Timing

  • The law takes effect on Royal Assent. The registry must be up within 60 days after that.

Expenses#

No publicly available information.

Proponents' View#

• Improves transparency and consumer protection by letting anyone confirm a person’s credentials online.
• Helps employers hire faster and reduces fraud by making it harder to claim false qualifications.
• Supports the apprenticeship system by coordinating with approved training providers.
• Adds a clear privacy rule to limit personal data sharing to only what is needed.
• Creates one consistent, province-wide source of truth on certifications.

Opponents' View#

• Even with limits, posting information online could raise privacy and data security concerns.
• Errors or outdated entries in the registry could hurt a worker’s job prospects.
• Setting up and maintaining the registry may add costs and administrative work.
• The ability to add more groups by regulation could expand the registry without full debate.
• Public listing might disadvantage skilled but uncertified workers in some fields if clients rely only on the registry.