The ACSESS Spring calendar included several key events, including our Annual General Meeting, the National Conference in Toronto, ON and Staffing for Canada Week 2024. I am pleased to introduce the ACSESS 2024-25 National Board of Directors. Earlier this month, our association members celebrated June 2-8 Staffing for Canada Week to recognize the industry’s more than 500,000 employees and the two million job seekers they place each year. Our offices issued press releases in recognition of this important week. We also announced the winners of our Exceptional Experiences essay contest.
ACSESS 2024 conference was a huge success, convening 300+ staffing and recruiting leaders in Toronto, ON, for the industry’s most comprehensive learning and networking event. Plus, a sold-out expo hall allowed attendees to learn more about the leading products and solutions for staffing companies. A special thank you to all conference sponsors and business partners.
Being the only national event dedicated to the Canadian staffing services industry, the ACSESS conference offers unparalleled opportunities to meet and network with senior executives and professional recruiters across North America. We were also happy to recognize our ACSESS 2024 Staffing Industry Award winners. The ACSESS conference program is dynamic and brings the best expertise together to offer an excellent learning experience for all attendees – please save the date and join us May 5-7th 2025 in Montreal!
We are excited to deliver our Summer/Fall regional sessions in all provinces with a wide range of topics including Industry Licensing and Pay Transparency in Ontario, new Industry specific policy considerations in Quebec and Industry licensing framework and Compliance standards in Alberta. Stay tuned for more details as we work to represent our members interests and offer educational opportunities on a national scale.
Because of the unique attributes of staffing and recruitment in Canada, a major focus of the association’s advocacy is to proactively ensure that labour and employment laws do not impede staffing agency operations or unnecessarily increase costs, which could reduce labor market flexibility. In its most recent 2022/23 economic report, Staffing Industry Analysts recognizes Canada as the market with the least regulations and legislative restrictions in the world.
ACSESS continues to assume a leadership role in ensuring that industry members are aware of legislative and regulatory changes on a national scale which if implemented may affect their businesses. Our national committee and sub committees continue to actively monitor legislative developments in all provinces on a wide range of industry specific policy issues.
Service Alberta is in the process of developing a compliance standards document to assist staffing and recruitment firms and ensure compliance under the Consumer Protection Act and the Employment Agency Business Licensing Regulation. As a key partner, ACSESS worked closely with Service Alberta in reviewing key materials. The standards and interpretations will address the most frequently asked questions and the most significant issues from an enforcement and compliance perspective.
In Ontario, the July 1st deadline for license applications is fast approaching! Over the course of the next few months, ACSESS will be working closely with the Ontario Ministry of Labour (MLTSD) staff on stage 2 of the licensing framework where the focus will be on ensuring strict enforcement of new requirements. As part of its mandate, ACSESS has long supported and advocated for initiatives to ensure that all temporary help agencies (THAs) comply with their legal obligations. This creates a level playing field for ACSESS member agencies and results in a fairer industry for the staffing and recruitment industry,, their clients and assignment employees alike.
ACSESS finalized representations in BC as part of Pay Transparency Consultations and are now well positioned to partner with the Ontario Ministry as they prepare to roll out their regulations in October, 2024.
We will also continue our outreach to all provincial premiers to promote the value of the staffing services and recruitment industries in Canada and our members’ contributions to the economy.
Wishing you all a safe and happy summer, and thank you all for your continued support and demonstrated leadership.
Mary McIninch
Executive Director, Government Relations/Directrice Générale
