Yukon Premier Dennis Fentie says a labour mobility agreement he signed Thursday with his counterparts will make it easier for people to work anywhere in Canada, but the territory's labour organization disapproves of the cross-country deal.
The agreement, signed at the Council of the Federation premiers meeting in Quebec City, would mean that in most cases, workers' credentials would be recognized in all the provinces and territories.
"The premiers have agreed unanimously that it's time to move ahead, and that would include full labour mobility in the country," Fentie told CBC News on Friday.
"I'm pleased to be able to report back that we now have taken the step to advance and implement an agreement of trade here in Canada."
Last month, Fentie declined to sign on to the Trade, Investment and Labour Mobility Agreement (TILMA), an interprovincial free trade and mobility deal started by British Columbia and Alberta.
Yukon labour organizations that supported Fentie's rejection of TILMA say they are unhappy with his signing Thursday's deal.
"I think it's somewhat misleading that the premier says they won't sign onto TILMA, when on the other side of the door, they've been working on an agreement," said Alex Furlong, president of the Yukon Federation of Labour.
"I don't think it was coincidental that the [TILMA] announcement was made in June prior to the premiers meeting here in Quebec City. And we're very concerned about how this is all going to be playing out, so I think the premier has got some explaining to do."
The Council of the Federation meeting wrapped up Friday.
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