'We can't be slowed down by repetitive recertification across provinces,' says Ontario Labour Minister
A pivotal meeting that could reshape workplace safety regulations across Canada is expected to take place this fall, with Ontario and Nova Scotia preparing to bring together provincial and federal leaders to advance a long-awaited national harmonization plan. The gathering, to be convened by officials in both provinces, marks the most significant step yet in efforts to streamline health and safety certifications for workers moving between provinces.
Aggressive timelines and national ambitions
Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini confirmed Ontario will call a meeting of the Canadian Association of Administrators of Labour Legislation (CAALL) in early fall. “I'm continuing to consult and meet with counterparts, both virtually and in person across Canada over the summer months, and we intend to call one in the fall,” Piccini said, outlining an aggressive timeline for progress.
The agenda for the meeting will focus on building consensus around a shortlist of five to ten key safety certifications—such as working at heights, hoisting and rigging, and confined spaces. The talks will focus on safety priorities common across provinces that currently require repetitive, time-consuming recertification. “The goal here is to really streamline this across Canada so that workers can move and empower them with the understanding of exactly what they have and what they need from coast to coast to coast,” Piccini explained.
Ontario, working closely with Nova Scotia, has already begun sector consultations and is gathering input from industry leaders and stakeholders. “We've heard from employer partners, workers alike, that we can't be slowed down by repetitive recertification across provinces, and there remains considerable delay when doing simple things like getting safety certified,” Piccini said.
Nova Scotia Labour Minister Nolan Young emphasized the collaborative nature of the initiative. “Nova Scotia is proud to work closely with our counterparts in Ontario and across the country to advance a national safety harmonization plan. By aligning our efforts and mutually recognizing that other provinces meet or exceed comparable level of protection, we can reduce barriers, support worker mobility, and strengthen protections for all workers in every province. I look forward to continuing these important conversations in the fall.”
The harmonization plan is also expected to include the development of a digital platform for certification verification, making it easier for workers and employers to navigate requirements nationwide.
Issues with Ontario’s regulatory patchwork
While Ontario is taking a leadership role, some industry voices warn the province’s own regulatory complexity could undermine its credibility. Lee-Anne Lyon Bartley, vice president of health, safety, and environment at Dexterra Group, argues Ontario’s piecemeal approach—continually adding new, sector-specific regulations—has created unnecessary red tape.
“Ontario needs to sort itself out because it's too difficult,” Lyon Bartley said, pointing to Ontario’s Occupational Health and Safety Act which contains 27 separate regulations, with at least one more expected to be added when Bill 222, Heat Stress Act, 2024 is approved. “Instead of saying let's take the bold move and actually sort of amalgamate, we'll just keep adding regulations,” said Lyon Bartley with frustration.
She suggests Ontario look to provinces like Alberta and British Columbia, which consolidate all health and safety requirements into a single code. “If I need to know the regulation on, say, workplace violence and harassment, or working at heights or washroom facilities, I only have to go to one document in some of these other provinces.”
Lyon Bartley cautions that before Ontario can credibly lead a national harmonization effort, it should “harmonize themselves first.” Recently, Ontario announced it is trying to eliminate safety red tape by legally recognizing ISO 45001 and COR as equivalent.
What’s next?
In the lead-up to the fall meeting, Ontario and Nova Scotia will continue sector consultations, gather feedback from employers and workers, and work with federal officials to ensure the digital platform and certification list reflect the needs of a modern, mobile workforce.
This is the time for health and safety leaders across Canada to make their voices heard. The hope is that the fall meeting will produce a national consensus and set the stage for a more unified, efficient, and protective regulatory environment for Canadian workers.
As Minister Piccini put it, “to do that sort of nation building, you've got to dream big and build big, and to do that, you want a healthy and safe workforce.”
The fall meeting could be a turning point in Canada’s decades-long conversation about safety harmonization—if Ontario can address its own internal challenges and rally the country around a common vision.
