Am I in Compliance?
All trades are enforced, under the authority of the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act and the General Regulations, by Compliance Officers employed by the Agency. These officers have the status of Special Constable under the Police Act and have the authority to issue summary offence tickets to employers and/or employees who are not in compliance with the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act and General Regulations.
Examples of non-compliance include:
- Working in a compulsory certified trade without proper credentials
- Employing prohibited persons in a compulsory certified trade
- Failure to provide direct supervision to an apprentice
- Failure to maintain proper ratio and presenting fraudulent trade credentials
Penalties for non-compliance under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act:
- There are two types of penalties: Summary Offense Tickets and Administrative Penalties. Here are the Fees for both types of penalties.
Compliance Officers are available to meet or speak with any individual, employer or group to provide clarification of the requirements of the Act. If you are an employer and are unsure of your compliance status, contact an officer at the Halifax office to schedule a Voluntary Compliance Audit as part of your workplace training and compliance program.
Submit a Compliance Complaint
Direct all complaints alleging non-compliance under the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act to the Compliance Section located in the Agency's Halifax office. Any person may make a formal complaint alleging an employer, employee or worker is in non-compliance with the Act. A formal written complaint must be completed by the complainant using the prescribed form (see below) and submitted to the the Compliance Section of the Agency.
When the completed form is received, it will be reviewed and the complaint may be investigated by by a Compliance Officer.
It is an offence, under Section 140 of the Criminal Code of Canada, to make a false statement accusing someone of committing an offence which has not occurred, or to report an offence has been committed when it has not been committed. Persons filing misleading or false statements may be prosecuted. The Agency will review the Complaint Form and decide upon the appropriate course of action.
Compliance and Enforcement Advisory Group
The Compliance and Enforcement Advisory Group [CEAG] advises the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency regarding compliance and enforcement in the 13 compulsory certified trades. The CEAG is:
- Developing a plan to expand the suite of enforcement tools available to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency to encourage and mandate compliance with the compulsory certified trade regulations;
- Providing advice on the ongoing development and review of compliance and enforcement policies, procedures and guidelines;
- Developing and monitoring the criteria used to set annual enforcement priorities and advise priorities to the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency; and
- Advising performance indicators and a schedule of reporting to all stakeholders.
| CEAG Member | Representing |
|---|---|
| Rodney Woodworth, Chair | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency |
| Kate Wray | Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency |
| David Rossiter | Truck and Transport Mechanic |
| Tom Griffiths | IBEW Local 625 |
| Sandy Bonvie | Sheet Metal Worker |
| Duncan Williams | Construction Association of Nova Scotia |
| Darren Muise | UA Local 56 |
| Greg Pope | UA Local 56 |
| Shannon Trites | Automotive Sector Council |