HomeMy WebLinkAboutCRPS-06-139 - Repeal Chapter 539 of The Municipal Code (Electrical Contractor-Master Electrician)l
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Corporate Services
Report To: Councillor B. Vrbanovic, Chair and Members of the Finance
and Corporate Services Committee
Date of Meeting: September 18, 2006
Submitted By: R. Gosse, Director of Legislated Services/City Clerk
Prepared By: Patricia Harris, Manager of Licensing
wards} Involved:
Date of Report: September 11, 2006
Report No.: CRPS-06-139
Subject: REPEAL CHAPTER 539 OF THE MUNICIPAL CODE
(ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR- MASTER ELECTRICIAN}
RECOMMENDATION:
That staff prepare a by-law to repeal Chapter 539 of the Municipal Code (Electrical Contractor -
Master Electrician; and further
That staff initiate the required public process with respect to the repealing by-law.
BACKGROUND:
The City of Kitchener has been examining Master Electricians and licensing both Master
Electricians and Electrical Contractors since 1973. The City was involved in reciprocal
agreements with several municipalities across the Province whereby if an electrician wrote an
exam in a city under the reciprocal agreement, they would not be required to write an exam in
each municipality, but they were required to obtain a licence in each municipality.
For several years the Electrical Contractors Association of Ontario has been lobbying the
Provincial Government to implement Province wide licensing of Electrical Contractors and
Master Electricians. The Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) in conjunction with the Ministry of
Government Services developed and received approval of the regulation needed to implement a
system of province-wide electrical contractor and master electrician licensing on November 2,
2005.
REPORT:
On July 1, 2006, the Electrical Safety Authority began accepting Electrical Contractor and
Master Electrician licence applications. Licences issued by municipalities are in effect until the
end of 2006. The new Provincial Licensing system will be fully implemented and take effect on
January 1, 2007. At that time the requirement for all electrical contractors to have a provincial
licence, issued by the Electrical Contractor Registration Agency (ECRA) of the Electrical Safety
Authority (ESA) to operate an electrical contracting business in the province of Ontario will be in
effect. The examination of electricians to obtain their Master Electrician licence will now also be
conducted by ECRA/ESA.
Under Ontario Regulation 347/06, s.1 of the Ontario Municipal Act, 2001:
"A municipality does not have the power under Part IV of the Act to establish a registry
for or to license, regulate or govern electricians, master electricians or electrical
contractors."
Therefore, Chapter 539 (Electrical Contractor-Master Electrician) of the City of Kitchener
Municipal Code is required to be repealed.
FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS:
There will be a loss of licensing revenue in the amount of $30,562.00.
(MRS) PATRICIA HARRIS
MANAGER OF LICENSING