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

Battle looming over Canada's defence spending

The budget document says spending by the Defence Department will reach nearly $40 billion by 2026-27 as a result of those additional investments, but the government is not saying what that means as a share of Canada's gross domestic product.

Battle looming over Canada's defence spending

Federal spending on staff grew during pandemic

The Parliamentary Budget Office says the increase in salaries was the largest contributor to the rise in total compensation, but spending on pensions, overtime and bonuses also grew at a faster rate.

Federal spending on staff grew during pandemic

Vancouver's March home sales down 42.5%: REBGV

Last month's sales totalled 2,535 compared with 4,405 sales in March 2022 and 1,808 in February. The B.C. board says the numbers signal that March home sales are making a stronger than expected spring showing so far, despite elevated borrowing costs.

Vancouver's March home sales down 42.5%: REBGV

Fungus deadly to bats detected in B.C. guano

The ministry says the fungus is primarily spread by bat-to-bat contact and doesn't affect humans but can spread through the movement of contaminated clothing and gear, or through accidental transport of the animals.

Fungus deadly to bats detected in B.C. guano

B.C. Indigenous rights beat mining, court hears

Human rights commissioner Kasari Govender confirmed in a separate news release Monday that she will be in court this week. She said how the declaration act is interpreted and implemented in this case will have "important implications for reconciliation in the province."

B.C. Indigenous rights beat mining, court hears

Child becomes entangled in garage door: New Westminster Police

Officers learned that the child had become entangled in the garage door and had suffered injuries. A heroic neighbour heard the mother in distress and rushed to free the child who was unable to free themself from the moving parts of the garage door.