National

B.C. to require licence for asbestos abatement contractors by 2024

Darpan News Desk The Canadian Press, 09 Jun, 2023 03:18 PM

British Columbia will soon be the first jurisdiction in Canada to implement a licensing requirement for asbestos abatement contractors.

The Labour Ministry says workers must be licensed by Jan. 1.

This comes following changes to the Workers Compensation Act last year, requiring that contractors who remove the cancer-causing material use only trained and certified workers.

The ministry says required training for worker certification is scheduled to begin this summer.

It says WorkSafeBC will begin to accept applications from contractors performing asbestos abatement work by September.

The ministry says the registry of those who are able to preform the work will be published by the end of the year.

"Bringing in stricter laws and controls around asbestos abatement work is essential for protecting people and the environment from the dangers of asbestos," the ministry said in a news release Friday.

Prev Next

MORE National ARTICLES

Two pedestrians killed in Quebec crash: police

Sgt. Hélène St-Pierre said the 38-year-old driver, a local resident, turned himself in to police and was arrested under suspicion of committing a fatal hit and run. One man who died was in his 60s, and the other was in his 70s.

Two pedestrians killed in Quebec crash: police

B.C. cautious but encouraged by bail reform moves

British Columbia's attorney general says the province is treading carefully to ensure the overincarceration of Indigenous people and other racialized groups is not made worse by proposed federal changes to the bail system.

B.C. cautious but encouraged by bail reform moves

Canada on sidelines as allies move ahead on AUKUS

That includes formalizing American and British plans to help Australia develop a fleet of nuclear-powered submarines in response to growing concerns about China's actions in the Indo-Pacific region.

Canada on sidelines as allies move ahead on AUKUS

Eight skunks found dead in B.C. had avian flu

British Columbia's Ministry of Agriculture says the skunks were infected with the same H5N1 strain that has caused the deaths of millions of domestic poultry since the outbreak began in April last year. The skunks were found in residential areas in both cities and were taken to B.C.'s Animal Health Centre over concerns they may have been deliberately poisoned.

Eight skunks found dead in B.C. had avian flu

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution

A report from the board says four of the five people aboard the Rocky Pass were injured when the boat came to an abrupt stop on the rocks on Jan. 25, 2022. The operator, who had 20 years of experience captaining the taxi, was using GPS in very foggy conditions when the navigation device froze.

Water taxi crash in B.C. prompts report's caution

House in Maple Ridge hit by gunfire

According to Mounties, one residence in the area was hit by gunfire. The residence was occupied at the time of the incident but no gunshot injuries occurred. The victims are cooperating with the police investigation.