THUNDER BAY — So you’ve finally saved up enough dough for that dream garage you’ve always wanted to build. All you need now is the paperwork.
If you live in a city, tracking down a building inspector and a permit’s not usually a big deal. But in rural areas where inspectors are in shorter supply, the necessary documents may not be so readily available.
To help address the shortage, Ontario’s Rural Affairs ministry has recently made regulatory changes to make it easier for qualified building officials in Manitoba to work in this province.
“This initiative aims to address staffing shortages in municipal building departments, particularly in Northwestern Ontario,” ministry spokeswoman Morgan Mattern said this week.
Discussions are also being held between the federal and provincial governments to “streamline and harmonize qualifications for building officials across Canada,” Mattern added.
In the meantime, rural towns near Thunder Bay seem to manage the inspector shortage by contracting out or other means.
Neebing clerk-treasurer Erika Kromm said the number of permits issued each year in her municipality wouldn’t justify having a full-time position.
“We’ve hired one of the City’s inspectors who works for us in their off hours,” Kromm said on Friday.
In Shuniah, its chief building official “also works as an inspector for the City of Thunder Bay,” said Shuniah chief administrator Paul Greenwood.
“Historically it’s been a challenge for small rural communities to retain the services of building inspectors,” Greenwood added.
“Shuniah is fortunate to have these contracted services protecting public health and safety in the construction of new buildings.”
O’Connor Township chief administrator Lorna Buob said her municipality has an appointed chief building official, but it’s not full-time. Hours of work are based on the demand for permits, Buob said.
Another option is job-sharing. Conmee Mayor Sheila Maxwell said her township shares building inspections services “with a neighbouring municipality.”
Meanwhile, qualified Manitoba building officials thinking of moving to Ontario don’t have to panic: the deadline to apply for an equivalency assessment that would allow them to work here isn’t until the end of 2026.
Applicants can request an Ontario equivalency assessment by email: [email protected].
Chronicle-Journal / Local Journalism Initiative
