One Canadian Economy Act is an opportunity to 'break down regulatory silos' says CCOHS VP
As Canada moves to streamline labour mobility with the One Canadian Economy Act, safety professionals are seizing the moment to demand national consistency in workplace protections. At the Canadian Safety Summit in Brampton, Ontario on Tuesday a panel of industry leaders called for bold reforms to address inconsistent standards, persistent fatality rates, and the challenges of modern workforce safety.
Moderated by WSIB’s Rod Cook, the panel featured leaders from EllisDon, Toyota, QM Environmental, and the Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety (CCOHS). Together, they emphasized that economic volatility should not delay progress on safety—rather, it’s a catalyst for change.
“Worker protections can’t depend on your postal code,” said CCOHS vice president of operations, Janet Mannella. “We need to break down regulatory silos and raise the floor.”
Building resilience through culture
Steve Chaplin, EllisDon’s senior vice president of health, safety and environment stressed the importance of embedding safety into culture long before a crisis hits. “There’s always something—tariffs, slumps, pandemics. But safety must stand above all of it,” he said.
EllisDon began its safety culture overhaul seven years ago, guided by leading and lagging indicators and committed leadership. “It takes three to five years to get culture right,” Chaplin added.
Toyota’s senior safety manager, Adam Pearson, echoed that change is possible—if it starts small. “We focus on relationships between supervisors and team members. That’s where safety culture takes root.”
Agnes Wietrzynski, CEO of QM Environmental, emphasized integrating safety into business continuity planning: “When safety is part of your decision-making DNA, you’re ready for anything.”
Standardization imperative
Interjurisdictional inconsistency quickly emerged as a focal point.
Mannella highlighted how training standards like first aid vary widely between provinces. “That’s a barrier to worker mobility—and a risk,” she said, drawing applause when she suggested starting harmonization efforts there.
Chaplin noted that EllisDon has joined 12 other contractors in a national coalition to voluntarily align key safety protocols. “We’re not waiting for regulators,” he said, citing PPE standards and fall protection rules as early focus areas.
Wietrzynski stressed the economic burden of non-standardized safety requirements. “Every provincial variation adds cost. Standardization isn’t a luxury—it’s essential,” she said.
Policy window opens
Introduced weeks before the Summit, the One Canadian Economy Act includes mutual recognition provisions that could reshape safety policy. The legislation allows certifications and standards valid in one province to be accepted federally, opening the door for harmonized training and credentialing.
“This gives us a mechanism to align safety standards nationally,” Mannella said.
The Act also establishes a Major Projects Office to streamline infrastructure approvals—potentially integrating safety oversight earlier in project planning.
Confronting fatalities
Despite decades of effort, Canada still records over 1,000 workplace fatalities annually.
Pearson described Toyota’s strategy to “break the cycle” of complacency by emphasizing soft skills and supervisor engagement. “When something goes wrong, don’t ask why they did it—ask what we missed,” he said.
Wietrzynski warned against relying on compliance alone: “Paperwork doesn’t reflect behaviour. One disengaged worker can cause a tragedy.”
Chaplin urged companies to shift away from traditional safety metrics. “Stop tracking Band-Aids. Focus on serious injury and fatality potential,” he said, citing EllisDon’s adoption of high-energy hazard models.
Mental health in the spotlight
Pearson explained how Toyota is expanding beyond EAPs to offer on-site mental health support, including psychological first aid and wellness resources. “If it affects our people, we support them—whether it’s occupational or not,” he said.
QM Environmental revamped benefits after discovering gaps during a series of mental health-related incidents. They now train supervisors to spot psychological risks on-site.
EllisDon went further, hiring two full-time mental health professionals after testing revealed poor response times from third-party providers. “You can’t rely on systems that leave people waiting three weeks,” said Chaplin.
Mannella summed it up: “The most expensive risk is the one no one talks about.”
Leadership from within
In closing, panelists were asked if internal programs or consultants offer better results.
“A consultant can give you a framework,” said Chaplin. “But they don’t have your heartbeat. That has to come from inside.”
With the One Canadian Economy Act laying new groundwork, and safety leaders pushing beyond compliance, 2025 could mark a turning point in Canada’s approach to protecting workers.
