Should my Barrhaven drywaller have WSIB coverage or an exemption?

For work on your own home in Barrhaven, WSIB's rules allow an independent operator or sole proprietor to be exempt from compulsory coverage if they are doing exempt home renovation work. That means work on an existing private residence that you, the homeowner, occupy or will occupy, and where you are directly hiring the contractor. In that situation, WSIB's clearance policy also does not require you to get a clearance certificate before the work starts.

So your drywaller may legitimately have either full WSIB coverage or a valid exemption. The right question to ask them is which one applies, and to show you something in writing that confirms it. If they carry coverage, they can give you a WSIB clearance number you can verify. If they claim the exemption, ask them to explain in plain terms why they qualify for it, because the exemption has conditions and not every contractor meets them.

A few things worth knowing before you decide:

• The exemption applies only to home renovation work on an existing residence you live in. If the job is part of a larger project that changes the use of the building, the exemption may not apply.
• If the contractor has employees on site, the exemption picture changes. Ask whether anyone else will be working on your job and whether those workers have their own coverage.
• If the contractor is incorporated rather than a sole proprietor or independent operator, the exemption rules are different again.

Ontario has two drywall trades, "Drywall, acoustic and lathing applicator" and "Drywall finisher and plasterer", and both are prescribed but non-compulsory under O. Reg. 876/21. A certificate is not required to do the work, so you cannot look a drywaller up on the Skilled Trades Ontario public register to confirm their status. What you can check yourself is the WSIB side.

Ask the contractor directly before any work starts, not after. If their answer is vague or they cannot point you to anything written, that is worth pressing on before you sign.