Canada’s Building Trades Unions has unanimously passed a resolution to harmonize national safety certification standards for construction workers, aiming to eliminate interprovincial barriers that prevent tradespeople from moving between provinces for work.
The resolution, passed at a recent board meeting in Ottawa, supports an initiative led by Ontario Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini, who was designated by provincial premiers and labour ministers across the country to lead the effort.
The move addresses varying health and safety certification standards across Canada, which require workers to obtain new certifications when moving between provinces. This process costs time and money and delays project progression, according to the organization.
Initiative targets mobility barriers
The resolution aims to streamline certification processes to ensure unionized skilled tradespeople can work on infrastructure projects across the country without recertification requirements.
“To ensure our members can be where the work is, we must streamline safety certifications between provinces, to uphold the highest standard of safety, while creating opportunities that put our members to work,” said Sean Strickland, executive director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions.
The organization represents 14 international unions in the construction, maintenance and fabrication industries, collectively representing 600,000 skilled trades workers in Canada across more than 60 trades and occupations.
Ontario leads national coordination
Piccini said the effort will create safer workplaces and support a more agile workforce while helping deliver infrastructure projects that drive long-term economic growth.
“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,” Piccini said.
The initiative represents a collaborative effort between Canada’s Building Trades Unions and the Ontario Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development to adopt best practices and establish consistent safety standards across provinces.
Ontario Premier Doug Ford joined the announcement alongside Piccini and the Canadian Executive Board of Canada’s Building Trades Unions.
