Acceso usuarios
Charles-Emmanuel Côté
The 2008 Entente entre le Québec et la France en matière de reconnaissance mutuelle des qualifications professionnelles is undoubtedly the most important agreement that has been concluded by Québec lately. It aims at establishing a system of mutual recognition of professional qualifications between the two parties, to allow the permanent establishment of professionals in aa jurisdiction other than that where they obtained their qualifications. Attuned to Québec's new international relations policy, the system has also been heavily influenced by the European Community's own system. Both systems are based on the principle that harmonization of professional education is not a precontion for recognition but, rather, that remedial measures may be required of migrants. An analysis of the implementation of the entente shows that professional bodies are actively involved in concluding mutual recognition arrangements but that the remedial measures imposed may vary greatly from one profession to another. Ambiguous provisions of the entente may in addition prove to be problematic in the future most importantly in regard to its scope of application. Since the Québec-France system deals only with the permanent establishment of professionals, there seems to be no problem of conformity with international trade law of European Community law, with the possible exception of international investment law with which some difficulty may arise. The new transatlantic workspace that has been opened up by the entente might serve as a model to be extended to other jurisdictions and may also illustrate the manner in which Québec's international initiatives may complement those undertaken by Canada, particularly as the latter is currently engaged in trade negotiations with the Europen Union.
