Hire a licensed electrician or get fined

Tenants of 92 apartment units in Toronto faced serious risks after a general contractor failed to hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor (LEC) for electrical work as part of a large renovation contract.

In early September, A+ Development and Management Corporation, the general contractor hired to complete a full renovation of units, plead guilty and was convicted in Ontario Court of Justice Toronto Region, for operating an electrical contracting business without a license and for failing to apply for inspection, and was ordered to pay a $10,000 fine plus a $2,500 victim surcharge.

“In Ontario, it is against the law for general contractors to conduct electric work without the proper licences,” says Steve Smith, General Manager for Central Region, Electrical Safety Authority.  “When you hire a Licensed Electrical Contractor, you get the right person to ensure your client’s electrical safety.”