Canada is currently failing its tradespeople, its infrastructure, and the public health of its citizens.

When it comes to the handling and abatement of Class A carcinogens like asbestos, the developed world operates on strict, compulsory laws.

Canada, however, is still operating on a non-compulsory "honor system" that allows workers to handle lethal materials.

We are no longer just falling behind; we are a global outlier. Look at the international standard:

The United States: Under federal EPA and OSHA laws, asbestos abatement is strictly compulsory. A worker cannot step onto a commercial site without an EPA-accredited certification and a state-issued hard card. Contractors caught using uncertified workers lose their business licenses and face crippling federal fines.

The United Kingdom is Governed by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE), the UK enforces some of the strictest laws on earth. Work with friable asbestos can only be carried out by a licensed contractor using workers who hold specific, mandatory compulsory-recognized training certificates.

Australia & New Zealand are under strict Work Health and Safety Regulations, it is a legal requirement that any worker removing asbestos must hold a formal "Certificate of Compulsory." If a worker does not have the ticket, they do not touch the material. Period.

The European Union has heavily updated EU Asbestos at Work Directive, there is a sweeping mandate across nations like France and Germany. Any worker engaging in demolition or asbestos removal must receive state-recognized training and hold a compulsory certificate. The law also forces employers to strictly track exposure.

The Canadian Failure While our international allies mandate compulsory training and strict liability, Canada allows hazardous materials abatement to remain largely a "voluntary" or non-compulsory trade.

This legal gap has created an underground economy of "Ghost Workers"—253w certified workers that are treated like laborers and sent into containment zones by contractors looking to undercut the market. This is Because the trade itself lacks compulsory protection, the government has no real care to track these workers, log their exposure hours, or hold shady contractors accountable before a tragedy occurs.

Safety regulations written on paper mean nothing if the trade itself is not legally protected. We demand the immediate reclassification of Hazardous  Materials Worker to be a strictly Compulsory Trade nationwide. Anything less is a calculated risk with the lives of the working class.

It is time to end the "honor system." It is time to align with the rest of the developed world.