On Sept. 9, 2019, A+ Development and Management Corporation (A+ Development) and its director pleaded guilty and were convicted in Ontario Court of Justice, Toronto Region, for operating an electrical contracting business without a licence and failing to apply for electrical inspection.

The company was sentenced to a total fine of $10,000, plus a $2,500 victim surcharge. The director of the company was handed a suspended sentence.

A+ Development, a general contracting company, was hired to complete a full renovation of a 92-unit residential building in Toronto. The company failed to hire a Licenced Electrical Contractor (LEC) to conduct the electrical work required as part of the renovation contract and did not apply for inspection of electrical work.

After the Electrical Safety Authority (ESA) performed an investigation and charges were laid, A+ Development voluntarily hired an LEC to repair all electrical defects and arranged for the ESA to conduct a follow-up electrical inspection. This resulted in the ESA providing Certificates of Inspection.

The ESA recommends property owners ensure any hired contractor holds all required qualifications and licences, including an ECRA/ESA licence for electrical work and can provide references; check that the contractor has secured all appropriate notifications and inspections; and ask the contractor for a copy of the ESA Certificate of Inspection once electrical work is complete.