Canadian Design and Construction Report staff writer
Canada’s Building Trades Unions has unanimously passed a resolution calling for the harmonization of health and safety certification standards for skilled tradespeople across the country, a move aimed at reducing barriers for workers moving between provinces.
The resolution was adopted at a recent meeting of the organization’s Canadian executive board in Ottawa, where Ontario Premier Doug Ford and Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini were also present.
The initiative seeks to address inconsistencies in provincial safety certification requirements that can require construction workers to undergo repeated training when working in different jurisdictions. The unions say those differences add costs, delay projects and limit labour mobility at a time of strong demand for skilled trades.
Piccini has been designated by provincial premiers and labour ministers to lead discussions on the issue at a national level.
Canada’s Building Trades Unions said harmonizing standards would allow workers to move more easily between provinces while maintaining high safety expectations on job sites.
Sean Strickland, executive director of the organization, said the resolution reflects a commitment to ensuring unionized tradespeople are trained to consistent safety standards and can work wherever projects are located.
“Harmonizing health and safety certifications across the country is critical to ensuring our workforce is appropriately trained, ready to deliver on nation-building projects safely and efficiently,” Strickland said in a statement.
Piccini said aligning safety standards would help create safer workplaces while supporting a more flexible construction workforce.
“By strengthening and working to align health and safety standards across Canada, we’re raising the bar and lowering the barriers that hold back growth,” he said.
Canada’s Building Trades Unions represents more than half a million skilled trades workers nationwide.
