Start here: tree work in Canada

Canada has no single national rulebook for tree work, so this page names the main provincial bodies and points to the other guides on this site. It describes what the official pages say. It is not legal advice.

Who sets the safety rules

The Canadian Centre for Occupational Health and Safety says on its responsibilities page that the basics of workplace safety law are similar across the country, but the details and how the laws are enforced vary from one jurisdiction to another. It names three basic worker rights: to refuse unsafe work, to participate and to know.

Alberta's code has a Part written for tree work. Part 39, Tree Care Operations, says it applies to pruning, repairing, maintaining or removing trees or cutting brush when a worker works at height and depends on the tree for support. In British Columbia, Part 8 of the OHS Regulation says leg protective devices must be worn by a worker operating a chain saw. In Ontario, the IHSA and WSPS say on their arboriculture page that they publish a suite of free health and safety resources for arboriculture and landscaping.

Other provinces have their own rules. See safety rules by country, the chainsaw protection guide and the power lines guide.

Tickets and certificates

In Quebec, a certificate is a legal requirement for some work. The government's arboriculture page says the arboriculture qualification certificate is mandatory for anyone doing arboriculture work for an employer, and that working without a valid certificate or apprentice card is an offence that carries a fine. The CNESST page on pruning and arboriculture says that from June 8, 2026 every worker doing pruning or arboriculture must hold a certificate. Both pages are in French.

Other provinces differ. Skilled Trades Ontario says on its arborist page that the trade is non-compulsory, so the certificate does not have to be renewed. SkilledTradesBC lists a Climbing Arborist program of 8 weeks of technical training over 1 year and 1,800 work-based hours. Job Bank says on its requirements page, which covers landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists, that trade certification for landscape horticulturists is available but voluntary in all provinces, and that a provincial licence to apply pesticides may be required.

Employers also name ISA credentials in job ads. See certifications by country, the apprenticeships guide and pesticide licences by country.

Associations

Body	Area its page names
Site of the ISA Ontario Chapter	Ontario
Site of the ISA Atlantic Chapter	Atlantic Canada
Site of the ISA Prairie Chapter	Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba
Site of the Quebec society, SIAQ	Quebec, site in French with an English option

See the associations and reading guide, which has the fees each chapter prints and says where British Columbia sits in ISA's list.

Where official pay figures live

Job Bank, the federal labour market site, has a wage report for arborists under NOC code 22114. The code's own title is landscape and horticulture technicians and specialists, so the figures cover a wider group than climbing crews. The page shows hourly wages for Canada of CA$21.00 low, CA$30.00 median and CA$40.87 high, and says wages were updated on November 19, 2025. It also has figures for each province. The pay guide lists several of them.

Reporting a tree pest

The Canadian Food Inspection Agency runs the plant health pages. Its invasive species page has a link headed Report a plant pest sighting. The emerald ash borer page says to report any detections outside of regulated areas immediately. See tree pests and diseases for more.

Working from abroad

Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada says on its work without a permit page that most foreign nationals need a work permit to work in Canada. Its work permit page says there are 2 types of work permits. For young people from some countries, the International Experience Canada page says that if you are 18 to 35 (18 to 30 in some countries) you can work and travel in Canada. Whether a route fits you is for the government to say. The working abroad guide covers all five countries.

Events

Competitions, conferences and chapter days are listed with links to the organiser on the events page. The organiser has the last word on dates and fees.

More guides for tree work in Canada

What the law asks in Canada, in the licensing guide.
Tickets by their full names, in the tickets guide.
ISA credentials step by step, in the ISA credentials guide.
Renewals and continuing education, in the keeping certified guide.
Pay province by province, in the regional pay guide.
Jobs beyond climbing, in the career paths guide.
Official outlook figures, in the career outlook guide.
Line clearance as a line of work, in the utility line clearance guide.
Safety reading at no cost, in the free safety resources guide.
Crisis and support lines, in the mental health and support guide.
Local groups near you, in the chapters and branches guide.
How a tree works, in the tree biology guide.
Naming the tree in front of you, in the tree identification guide.
Planting and nursery stock rules, in the planting standards guide.
Free courses and reading, in the free learning library.
Tree permits city by city, in the Canadian city permits guide.
Safety rules place by place, in the state and province rules guide.
Published injury cover rates for tree work, in the injury cover rates guide.
Pay by city and region, in the pay by city guide.
Minimum wages and award rates, in the minimum pay guide.
Risk assessments and equipment records, in the site paperwork guide.
Who must report a work injury, in the injury reporting guide.
Official injury and death figures, in the injury figures guide.
Crane operator licences and lifting rules, in the cranes guide.
Public lookups for a tree company, in the company checks guide.
Approved contractor and credential-check schemes, in the schemes guide.
Every regulator, licence office and scheme in one list, in the Canada directory of official bodies.
Helmet standards and the markings to look for, in the helmets guide.
Visors, glasses and ear defenders, in the eye, face and hearing guide.
Chainsaw trousers, chaps and boots by label, in the chainsaw clothing guide.
Line, lanyard and friction cord ratings, in the climbing lines guide.
Saddle and harness standards, in the saddles and harnesses guide.
The numbers stamped on carabiners and pulleys, in the hardware ratings guide.
High-visibility clothing for roadside work, in the hi-vis guide.
Gear inspection and examination rules, in the gear inspection guide.
Unit conversions and green wood weights, on the tools page.