Documents outlining the administrative penalty process under the Fire Safety Act are now available. In the coming months, the Office of the Fire Commissioner will host virtual information sessions for local government to discuss the process in more detail.
Since the Fire Safety Act (FSA) came into effect on August 1, 2024, the Office of the Fire Commissioner (OFC) has been working to finalize key processes related to the legislation. The latest step is the introduction of the administrative penalty (AP) process.
The FSA includes a mechanism for APs in cases of contravention of the FSA and its regulations. These penalties are intended to encourage voluntary compliance in situations of ongoing or repeated non-compliance; they are not meant to be punitive. Local authorities may request APs in response to contraventions of the FSA and its regulations. However, the OFC recommends that they should only be considered after all local options and available compliance tools have been exhausted.
Administrative penalties may be requested for:
- Failure to comply with an order issued under the FSA, or
- Refusal to provide information requested by a fire inspector or investigator.
Fire service personnel acting as designated fire inspectors and fire investigators may be involved in this process. Local authorities must request administrative penalties but only the Province, through the OFC, can issue them (as noted in section 33 of the FSA).
New detailed information about the AP request process, including the Fire Safety Act Administrative Penalty Policy and Procedures document, is now available on the OFC website.
In the coming months, the OFC will host virtual information sessions to share FSA updates, review the AP process, roles and responsibilities, and answer any questions regarding administrative penalties. Further details to come from the OFC.