Paperwork an abatement contractor should show before starting in Calgary?

Before any abatement work begins in Calgary, a contractor should be able to hand you several specific documents. None of them constitute a provincial abatement licence, because Alberta does not issue one. What the law and good practice require instead are a worker card, a filed notification, and a few other pieces of paper that together tell you the job will be done legally.

What to ask for, and why each document matters

Alberta asbestos worker cards. Under the Alberta OHS Code, every worker who enters an asbestos restricted area must hold a valid, government-approved Alberta asbestos worker certificate and carry the original. The card expires three years from issue. Ask to see the original for each worker who will be on site, not a photocopy, and check the issue date yourself.

The 72-hour OHS notification confirmation. The OHS Code requires the employer to notify a Director at least 72 hours before beginning any activity that may release asbestos fibres, and nobody may start that work until the notification is filed. The contractor files it online through Alberta's asbestos notification portal and should be able to show you a confirmation. If they cannot, the work cannot legally begin.

The City of Calgary Asbestos Abatement Information Form. If a building permit or demolition permit is involved, the City requires this form before releasing it. The form declares that asbestos-containing materials have been removed from the project area and disposed of at an approved landfill, or that none are present. Ask whether a permit is needed for your scope of work, and if so, confirm the form has been submitted.

The pre-renovation or pre-demolition asbestos assessment. This is the bulk-sample lab report showing which materials were tested, where samples were taken, and what the polarized light microscopy results were. It is the basis for the risk classification and the scope of work. If the contractor is relying on a report you commissioned, confirm they have reviewed it. If they are supplying it, ask how many samples were taken and from which materials.

A WCB clearance letter. Anyone can request this from WCB-Alberta online. It confirms the contractor has a WCB account in good standing. Without it, if premiums have not been paid, you as the hirer may be liable for them.

Proof of liability and property damage insurance. Alberta's hiring guidance says to ask for an insurance certificate. Ask for the certificate itself, not just a verbal assurance, and check that it covers the scope of work.

A written contract. If any payment is made before work is finished, Alberta's prepaid contracting rules apply. A prepaid contract of $200 or more must be in writing and must include the names and addresses of both parties, a detailed description of the work, itemized prices, the total price, the completion date, and a statement of your cancellation rights. The contractor must give you a copy on or before the day work begins.

One practical step before you sign: place the two quotes side by side and check that each one itemizes containment, clearance air testing by an independent consultant, disposal at Shepard landfill with a permit and appointment, and the 72-hour notification, then compare what each quote includes for those line items rather than comparing only the bottom number.

Every contractor who replies through the form on this page should be able to produce this whole list.