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New survey shows duplicated safety requirements are driving significant costs, delays, and administrative burden—without improving safety outcomes

Ottawa, ON — April 20, 2026 — Construction contractors operating across provincial boundaries are facing significant and unnecessary administrative costs due to non‑harmonized safety certifications, training, and verification requirements, according to new survey findings released today by the Mechanical Contractors Association of Canada (MCAC).

The national survey, conducted in February 2026, highlights widespread duplication in safety programming across provinces, despite identical workplace hazards. Contractors report that inconsistent requirements are increasing costs, delaying project starts, and restricting labour mobility, all without delivering better safety results.

“Contractors are not asking for less safety,” said Tania Johnston, CEO of MCAC. “They are asking for smarter systems that recognize equivalent safety outcomes, reduce duplication, and allow companies and workers to focus their time and resources on managing real risks in the field.”

The survey reveals that the lack of harmonization in safety certifications is creating a measurable burden across the construction sector:

  • A majority of surveyed contractors experience moderate to high administrative burden due to non‑harmonized safety requirements
  • Many firms spend 10–24 hours per month managing duplicated safety paperwork and retraining; large, multi‑jurisdictional firms report 50–100+ hours
  • Direct costs from duplicated audits and retraining frequently reach $25,000–$100,000+ annually, excluding lost productivity and declined work
  • 74 per cent of respondents strongly support a national mutual recognition or common assessment framework

“Identical hazards are being treated as if they are different simply because a worker crosses a provincial border,” Johnston added. “That inconsistency undermines labour mobility and internal trade at a time when Canada needs both.”

Based on the survey results, MCAC is calling for targeted federal leadership in three core areas:

  1. National Safety Certification Verification Database: Establish a secure, nationally accessible system to verify safety‑certified workers and companies, adopted by provinces, territories, and industry to reduce repeated documentation, retraining, and audits.
  1. Framework for Harmonization and Mutual Recognition: Convene industry, provinces, and regulators to develop a national framework that:
  • Defines core safety training areas and competency outcomes
  • Supports equivalency recognition based on outcomes—not identical training pathways
  • Enables mutual recognition of COR/SECOR, ISO‑aligned, and other accredited systems
  • Builds on existing jurisdictional efforts rather than replacing them
  1. Guidance to Owners and Procurement Bodies: Issue national guidance encouraging the acceptance of equivalent certifications and verified safety data to reduce inconsistent owner and general contractor requirements

The association noted that while provincial initiatives are making progress, a coordinated national framework can help deliver consistent, long‑term outcomes across the system.

“Targeted federal leadership can strengthen internal trade, improve productivity, and maintain strong safety outcomes,” said Johnston. “Getting harmonization right benefits workers, contractors, and the Canadian economy.”

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