Annual award program recognizes Ontario leaders in public safety
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is now accepting nominations for its 2026 Safety Awards, which celebrate outstanding leadership in Ontario’s public safety.
Each year, TSSA Safety Awards honour individuals and organizations that have made significant contributions to Ontario’s public safety in TSSA’s regulated sectors: Fuels; Boilers and Pressure Vessels and Operating Engineers; Elevating and Amusement Devices and Ski Lifts.
Access the online nomination form on TSSA’s website to nominate an individual or organization working in TSSA’s regulated sectors. Nominations are open until June 1, 2026 (Monday).
There are two award categories:
- Impact Awards recognize notable contributions, initiatives or projects that deliver positive safety outcomes and go above and beyond regulatory compliance.
- Legacy Awards honour individuals or organizations with a longstanding commitment to safety and a demonstrated history of safety impact.
TSSA will announce the 2026 Safety Awards recipients at its annual public meeting in the fall.
The recipients of TSSA’s Safety Awards in 2025 are as follows:
2025 Impact Safety Award Recipient: Jamie Kovacs
Jamie Kovacs, Executive Director of the Fire Marshal’s Public Fire Safety Council, received the Impact Award for his dedication to advancing fire safety and prevention. Partnering with fire departments across Ontario, Jamie leads a team that helps make fire safety and prevention a community priority.
As a volunteer firefighter with Central Elgin Fire Rescue since 2018, Jamie responds to more than 100 fire and carbon monoxide calls each year — living out his commitment to protecting others well beyond his professional role. He also works diligently with the Central Elgin communities to promote fire safety messages and educate the public on the importance of smoke and carbon monoxide alarms. Watch the video; read the story.
2025 Legacy Safety Award Recipient: Canadian Elevator Industry Educational Program (CEIEP)
The Canadian Elevator Industry Educational Program was honoured with the Legacy Award for its safety leadership and delivery of safety education and apprenticeship programs for elevator constructor apprentices and mechanics since its establishment in 1967. As the sole training provider offering a foundational apprenticeship program and continuing education for certified elevator mechanics, CEIEP plays an instrumental role in developing in-school curriculum standards for apprenticeship training and creating the initial TSSA-approved curriculum and workbooks focusing on safety and maintenance. Its comprehensive approach to safety education, which focuses on both technical competencies and human well-being, positively impacts worker safety within the elevating devices industry. Watch the video; read the story.
About TSSA
Throughout Ontario, the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) enforces provincial safety regulations and enhances public safety. TSSA regulates the safety of amusement devices, boilers and pressure vessels, elevating devices, fuels, operating engineers, and ski lifts. Its range of safety services includes public education, certification, licensing and registration, engineering design review, inspections, investigations, safety management consultation, compliance support, enforcement, and prosecution activities.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) has expanded the suite of online services on the Client Portal. Beginning on March 16, 2026, all engineering submissions and exam and certification services are accessible through the Client Portal ─ a centralized gateway to TSSA’s online services.
Moving more core services online demonstrates TSSA’s continued efforts to improve client experience by enhancing the accessibility of the Client Portal as a one-stop shop for doing business with TSSA.
“In 2024, we launched the Client Portal to modernize our systems so that regulated clients can focus on managing safety,” says TSSA President and CEO Bonnie Rose. “Today, the expansion of online services on the Client Portal marks our continued commitment to enhance accessibility and ease of doing business with TSSA.”
Making more services accessible online enhances visibility by allowing clients to monitor the status of their applications in real time. In addition to simplifying the process for submitting design and engineering applications for regulated equipment, the step-by-step approach of online submissions makes it easier for clients to provide the required information and supporting documents.
As a result of implementing enhancements, turnaround times for processing engineering applications and issuing certificates have improved significantly. As TSSA continues to meet faster turnaround times going forward, expedited services for engineering are no longer available except for unforeseen, emergency situations.
On the training and professional certification front, integrating exam and certification services into the Client Portal improves user experience. Streamlining the exam-application process shortens the time it takes to become certified for professionals seeking to work in a TSSA-regulated industry.
Watch the video to learn about the improvements brought about by moving more services online and how it enhances ease of doing business with TSSA.
For assistance or inquiries on the Client Portal, please contact TSSA’s Customer Contact Centre at 1-877-682-8772 or refer to the self-help resources on TSSA’s website.
Engineering Service Changes by Industry
Exam & Certification Services Changes
This news was shared with all TSSA clients.
No access to both the Client and Prepayment Portals during system upgrade
This is a reminder that the Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) will perform a system upgrade to migrate more services online. As a result, both the Client and Prepayment Portals will not be accessible starting on Wednesday, March 11, at 4:00 p.m. EST until Monday, March 16, at 8:00 a.m. EST.
TSSA’s response times may be affected during and immediately after the system upgrade as we integrate more core services into the Client Portal to streamline key processes and improve client experience.
As of March 16, 2026, new services available on the Client Portal include:
- Engineering submissions for regulated equipment: Online services provide clear, step-by-step instructions, making it easier for clients to provide the required information and supporting documents for engineering submissions. For details, please read:
- Amusement Devices
- Elevating Devices and Ski Lift
- Fuels Safety
- Boilers and Pressure Vessels
- Certification and Exam Services: We have streamlined the exam-application process and shortened the time it takes to obtain certification through TSSA. Professionals seeking certification to work in a TSSA-regulated industry will be able to access all exam and certification services through the Client Portal ─ a centralized gateway for all applications. For details, please read Exam and Certification communication.
Sign Up for Client Portal
If you are not yet a Client Portal user, follow these instructions to sign up. After creating access to the Client Portal, you must link your portal profile to your existing TSSA account to perform transactions, submit applications and access online services.
This news was shared with all TSSA clients.
The Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is expanding the suite of online services on the Client Portal.
Integrating more core services into the Client Portal supports TSSA’s commitment to improving client experience and increasing accessibility to key services. Starting March 16, 2026, the following services will be available on the Client Portal:
- Engineering submissions for regulated equipment
- Certification and Exam services, including:
- Online application for examinations
- Certificate reinstatement
- Application for a certificate from outside Ontario
- Obtaining Training Provider accreditation
- Computer-based, in-person examinations at dedicated exam centres
What this Means for Public Information Clients
- Temporary system outage: To support the expansion of online services, TSSA will perform a system upgrade. Both the Client and Prepayment Portals will be inaccessible starting on Wednesday, March 11 at 4:00 p.m. EST until Monday, March 16 at 8:00 a.m. EST. Public Information requests cannot be submitted during the system outage.
- New process for submitting Public Information requests: Starting March 16, 2026, clients will follow updated steps to submit Public Information requests through the Client Portal:
- Log in to the TSSA Client Portal
- Select ‘Applications’ from the navigation menu
- Click ‘Start an Application’
- Select the appropriate program (Amusement Devices, Boilers and Pressure Vessels, Elevating Devices, Fuels Safety, Operating Engineer, Ski). If your request is for multiple programs, select any one of the programs to go to the page where you can select ‘multiple programs' in the application.
- Click ‘Request Public Information’ to begin your application.
If you need help using the Client Portal, please contact TSSA’s Customer Contact Centre at 1-877-682-8772.
This communication was sent to clients who have submitted public information requests.
February 26, 2026
As Ontario’s public safety regulator, Technical Standards and Safety Authority (TSSA) is dedicated to advancing safety across the province. As a not for profit organization, TSSA sets its fees on a cost recovery basis to reflect the actual cost of its services.
TSSA has made significant progress toward cost recovery while continuing to improve organizational efficiencies. This approach aligns with TSSA’s Outcome-Based Regulator principles and helps both TSSA and our regulated sectors stay focused on what matters most – minimizing the risk of harm.
TSSA reviews fees annually to ensure we can adequately fulfill our regulatory responsibilities. Through this review, TSSA has determined that an inflationary fee increase is sufficient for continued cost recovery that supports the effective delivery of our safety mandate, while considering service delivery value for stakeholders.
Inflationary fee increase of 2.4%
Effective May 1, 2026, an inflationary fee increase of 2.4% will apply to the Fuels, Elevating Device, Ski Lift and Amusement Device programs, as well as Boiler and Pressure Vessel (BPV) inspections and engineering. However, there is no planned inflationary fee increase for the BPV Certificate of Inspection (BPV COI) program on May 1, 2026, as a fee adjustment aimed at eliminating the historic deficit and achieving cost recovery in this area already took effect at the beginning of this year.
Enhancing customer service and experience
TSSA continues to pursue greater efficiency while implementing annual fee adjustments at or less than the rate of inflation to support cost recovery and maintain the resources needed to advance services. Along with expanding services on the TSSA Client Portal, upcoming improvements include enhanced examination and certification services and streamlined engineering reviews. These services will provide more flexible options for writing exams and obtaining certifications, as well as more predictable engineering timelines and faster access to reviews.
General reminders: The steps to minimize your fees
To comply with regulatory obligations and save costs, customers are encouraged to take the following steps:
- Follow all safety regulations and codes.
- Make sure your workers have the appropriate training and the certifications or licences that apply to them.
- Provide ongoing safety training and education for your workers.
- Make sure all required documentation is in order.
- Provide support needed for TSSA to complete audits or inspections.
- Keep your authorizations (licences, permits, registrations, certificates) current and pay for them before the expiry date to avoid late payment fees.
- Provide at least three business days' notice to TSSA when cancelling or rescheduling an inspection you initiate to avoid cancellation fees.
- Keep your contact and device information up to date.
Paying your fees
TSSA accepts credit card payments for invoices through TSSA’s Client Portal.
For more information, please visit www.tssa.org/fees.
TSSA appreciates your continued partnership and understanding. Should you have any questions or require further information, please contact us at 1-877-682-8772 or customerservices@tssa.org