Introduction

From May 10–June 16, 2023, we engaged with our clients and industry partners on proposed fee changes for 2024–2025. The proposed changes included:

• a general fee increase of 7% in 2024 and 4% in 2025;
• charging the same fee across all technologies, with cost depending on exam delivery (paper, digital remote, digital in-person, or practical);
• reducing fees for electrical permits with lower job values, while increasing 8% in 2024 for electrical permits with job valued over $1000; and
• charging hourly rates for administrative, safety, and professional services, with the same rate across all technologies.

Outreach and Participation

Before the consultation, we met with 12 industry associations and surveyed over 950 clients about their industry’s financial outlook and sentiment around certification fees.

We notified 70,000+ clients and associations about the consultation by email. In total, 277 clients and industry partners submitted survey responses or emails, or attended meetings and feedback sessions. In comparison, 850+ participants participated in the fee consultation for the 2021–2023 fee cycle.

All Participants Profile

The data below includes information from the client survey, email and engagement sessions.

Technology

Most participants work with the electrical and boilers, pressure vessels & refrigeration technologies.

Note: Participants may work with more than one technology.

Participant Type

Most participants were either contractors or certificate holders.

Survey Participants Profile

The following questions were asked in the survey only. The profile below does not include consultation participants who provided feedback through email or meetings.

Geographic Region

Participants work in a variety of regions across the province.

Note: Participants may work in more than one region.

Survey question: Which area(s) do you work in?
Number of responses to this question: 242

Industry

Construction is the top industry represented, followed by services and manufacturing.

*Note: Industry classifications are adapted from the NAICS classification (North American Industry Classification System).

Survey question: Which industry are you in?
Number of responses to this question: 138

Length of time working in industry

Many participants who answered the survey have been working in their industry for 20 years or more.

Survey question: How long have you worked in this industry?
Number of responses to this question: 129

Business size

The majority of participants work in small businesses with less than 100 employees.

Note: Business sizes are classified according to Statistics Canada definitions.

Survey question: How many employees does your business employ (including yourself)?
Number of responses to this question: 120

Summary of Survey Responses

Survey participants rated the impact each proposed fee change would have on their business or personal finances, from minimal to severe. The comments below summarize the feedback received through the survey, email, and meetings.

General Fee Increase

Impact of general fee increase

Most participants responded that the proposed general fee increase (7% in 2024 and 4% in 2025) would have a moderate (36%) or low (25%) impact on their business or personal finances.

Survey question: If we were to increase most fees by 7% in 2024 and by 4% in 2025, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 211

Summary of Comments

• Cost of living and working is also increasing.
• High fees may discourage consumers from wanting to get permits and hire licensed contractors.
• General fee increase affects certification renewal fees. Some certificate holders feel they should not have to pay a renewal fee to maintain their certificate.

In comparison, we received over 55% negative comments in response to the consultation for the 2021–2023 general fee increase, and most comments related to the economic impact of the pandemic.

Certification Exams

Impact of separating evaluation and exam fees

An almost equal number of participants rated the impact of separating the certificate evaluation and exam fees as minimal, low, moderate, or severe. Of the 39 certificate holders responding that they use this service, 28% rated this proposed change as a severe impact, 21% moderate rated it as, and 21% rated it as low.

Survey question: Currently, some technologies have a separate non-refundable evaluation of qualification fee and exam fee. If we were to separate all certification exam fees into a non-refundable evaluation of qualification fee and an exam fee, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 100

Impact of proposed exam fees

Most participants rated the impact of the proposed certificate exam fees (in 2024: $220 for paper in-person exams, $189 for digital in-person exams, $179 for digital remote exams, and $331 for practical exams) as severe (27%) or moderate (21%). Of the 42 certificate holders responding that they use this service, 38% rated this proposed change as a severe impact, and 29% rated it as moderate.

Survey question: If we were to charge the following exam fees for all technologies, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 100

Customized fees for offsite exam invigilation

Survey question: We have proposed to charge customized fees when our employees invigilate exams outside of our office, instead of the current exam invigilation fee schedule. Do you have any questions or concerns about this change?
Number of responses to this question: 26 comments (included in Summary of Comments)

Summary of Comments

• High fees may discourage people from wanting to enter these professions and trades.
• Additional fees for exam invigilation may disadvantage examinees in remote communities.

Electrical Permits

Change of definition for electrical installation permit fees

Most participants (53%) responded that using the Electrical Safety Regulation's definition of "fully detached dwelling" would clarify when to use the "single family dwelling" electrical installation permit category or the "other" electrical installation permit category. Of the 27 electrical contractors responding that they do this type of work, 78% responded that this clarifies which type of permit to use.

Survey question: We have proposed to use the Electrical Safety Regulation definition of “fully detached dwelling” instead of the BC Electrical Code definition of “single family dwelling” for the “Contractor Installation Permits – Single Family Dwelling” fee in the electrical fee schedule. Do you think this would help to clarify the type of electrical permit to use in this case?
Number of responses to this question: 64

Electrical installation permit fees for small jobs under $1000

Most participants responded that lowering the electrical installation permit fees for small jobs under $1000 would somewhat resolve their concerns but the reduced fees are too high (34%), or that this proposed change would resolve their concerns (20%). Of the 30 electrical contractors responding that they do this type of work, 60% responded that this would somewhat resolve their concerns but the reduced fees are too high, and 17% responded that this would resolve their concerns. Many participants who commented would prefer the fees for the $400-$1000 tier to be lowered further or for electrical permit fees to be charged as a percentage of the job value.

Survey question: We’ve heard a lot of feedback about fees for electrical installation permits for small jobs. If we were to change the fee tiers for permits with job values lower than $1000 and reduce these fees, would this resolve your concerns?
Number of responses to this question: 65

Survey question: If you were to change the fee tiers for electrical permits with job values lower than and up to $1000, what would you change them to? Please feel free to add details.
Number of responses to this question: 11 comments (included in Summary of Comments)

Electrical installation permits with job values higher than $1000

Most participants responded the proposed 8% increase in 2024 to fees for electrical installation permits with job values higher than $1000 would be a moderate (34%) or severe impact (22%). Of the 30 electrical contractors responding that they do this type of work, 53% responded that this proposed change would be a moderate impact, 23% responded it would be a severe impact, and 20% responded it would be low.

Survey question: If we were to increase the fees by 8% in 2024 and 4% in 2025 for electrical installation permits with job values higher than $1000, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 65

Summary of Comments

• Larger businesses can absorb higher increases.
• Reduced fees for lower tiers is a positive step. Fees for job values around $1000 are still too high for homeowners.
• Charge contractor electrical installation permit fees as a percentage of the job value.

Hourly Rates for Administrative, Safety, and Professional Services

Administrative Services Hourly Rates

Of the 35 participants responding that they use administrative services, 29% responded that the proposed fees for administrative services in all technologies would be a severe impact, 26% responded it would be minimal, and 23% responded it would be moderate.

Survey question: We charge an administrative services fee at an hourly rate for services such as issuing replacement certificates and producing custom reports. If we were to charge the same fee for all technologies ($80/hour in 2024 and $83/hour in 2025), how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 47

Safety Services Hourly Rates

Of the 38 participants responding that they use safety services, 34% responded that the proposed fees for safety services in all technologies would be a moderate impact, and 32% responded it would be severe.

Survey question: We charge a safety services fee at an hourly rate for services such as re-inspections and reviewing variances. If we were to charge the same fee for all technologies ($196/hour in 2024 and $204 in 2025), how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 47

Professional Services – Compliance and Enforcement Program Hourly Rates

Of the 36 participants responding that they use professional services in the compliance and enforcement program, 36% responded that the proposed fees for professional services would be a moderate impact, and 28% responded it would be severe.

Survey question: We charge a professional services fee at an hourly rate for services in the compliance & enforcement program such as compliance audits. If we were to raise this fee to $196/hour in 2024 and $204 in 2025, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 47

Professional Services – Alternative Safety Approaches Program Hourly Rates

Of the 35 participants responding that they use professional services in the alternative safety approaches program, 46% responded that the proposed fees for professional services would be a moderate impact, and 29% responded it would be severe.

Survey question: We charge a professional services fee at an hourly rate for services in the alternative safety approaches program such as evaluations and audits. If we were to raise this fee to $356/hour in 2024 and $370 in 2025, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 47

Professional Services – All Technologies Hourly Rates

Of the 34 participants responding that they use professional services in any technology, 41% responded that the proposed fees for professional services in all technologies would be a moderate impact, and 29% responded it would be severe.

Survey question: We charge a professional services fee at an hourly rate for services in the electrical, gas, boilers & pressure vessels, elevating devices, passenger ropeways, amusement devices, railways, and homeowner electrical & gas technologies, for services such as custom services by senior safety officers. If we were to charge the same fee for all technologies of ($295/hour in 2024 and $307 in 2025) for future professional services, how much would this impact you and your business?
Number of responses to this question: 46

Summary of Comments

• Reassessment fees seem high, considering that many reassessments are done remotely.
• Remote assessment fees should be reduced to consider the lower cost to conduct a remote assessment rather than a physical assessment.

Design Registration

No increase to design registration fees

Most participants (66%) felt that it was reasonable not to increase the design registration fees because of the plans to consult on overall program changes and associated fees.

Survey question: We have proposed no increases to design registration fees at this time, because we will consult on program changes and fees over the next few years. Do you feel that this proposal is reasonable?
Number of responses to this question: 29

Changing wording in fee schedule for gas design registration

Survey question: We have proposed to change the term “design approval” to “design registration” in the gas fee schedule. Would this clarify the difference between gas design registration and gas product approvals?
Number of responses to this question: 29

Credit Card Transaction Limits

Survey question: If we were to stop accepting credit card payments greater than $5,000 and accept only electronic funds transfer (EFT) or cheque, which would you prefer to use?
Number of responses to this question: 49

Late Fees

Survey question: We are considering changing how we charge late fees in 2025 or later. If we were to charge a late fee of 5% of the balance owing + 1% of each full month past the due date, do you think this would encourage timely payments?
Number of responses to this question: 43

Fee Removals

Removing fees for certifications and exams no longer offered

Survey question: We have proposed to remove several fees for certification services that are no longer necessary. Do you have any concerns about removing these fees?
Number of responses to this question: 96

Removing fees for change of ownership

Survey question: We have proposed to remove the change of ownership fee from all fee schedules. Do you have any concerns about removing these fees?
Number of responses to this question: 40

Removing fees for design registration services no longer offered

Survey question: We have proposed to remove two fees for design registration services that are no longer offered. Do you have any concerns about removing these fees?
Number of responses to this question: 28

Summary of Comments

• Keep the certification re-examination fee higher than the examination fee to encourage examinees to prepare better for their exams.

Fee Schedule

Issues with fee schedules

Survey question: When looking at the fee schedules, which of the following issues do you have, if any?
Number of responses to this question: 120

What fee schedules are used for

Survey question: What do you use the fee schedules for?
Number of responses to this question: 148

Where clients find fee schedules

Survey question: Where do you normally go to find our fees?
Number of responses to this question: 148

Summary of Comments

• The complicated layout of the fee schedules makes them difficult to understand.

• Fee schedules are often used for pricing job quotes

Next Steps

In our final recommendation to our Board of Directors on the fees for 2024–2025, we are considering all feedback that we received through this consultation, our pre-consultation, and other inputs such as BC’s consumer price index, and the financial outlook of BC’s industries.

If the Board of Directors approves, the new fees for 2024–2025 will be announced by early October 2023, and will be in effect January 1, 2024.

If you have questions or comments, contact engage@technicalsafetybc.ca.