Deputy ministers responsible for labour across Canada met behind closed doors on October 22 in Calgary to discuss national safety certification harmonization, according to a statement from Employment and Social Development Canada (ESDC).

The meeting, involving officials from federal, provincial, and territorial governments. It marked a significant step in what has been a decades-long push to modernize and unify occupational health and safety (OHS) training across Canada. The session was closed to the public and media.

Ontario stakeholders identify priority areas

Sources say Ontario stakeholders consulted by the province over the summer collectively identified the following as their top priorities when it comes to harmonization:

• Entry-level construction training
• Supervisor training
• Working at heights
• Fall prevention
• Mobile elevated work platforms (MEWPs)

These categories represent high-risk sectors or job functions where certification standards vary significantly between provinces, often requiring workers to repeat training when crossing provincial boundaries.

“We can’t be slowed down by repetitive recertification across provinces,” Ontario Labour Minister David Piccini said in an earlier interview with Canadian Occupational Safety.

Nova Scotia’s Labour Minister Nolan Young also expressed support, saying, “It’s time that we can have some alignment with other jurisdictions without compromising any safety standards.”

Training and compliance impacts expected

If the meeting results in a formal commitment to harmonize these categories, employers may be required to adjust their internal training programs, align with nationally recognized standards, and potentially re-evaluate their use of third-party training providers.

Digital verification platform under consideration