Court sentences unlicensed fuels contractor to 5 days in jail

In October 2015, a TSSA inspector investigated a complaint about the removal and installation of fuel-fired appliances at a Kingston residence and discovered that the work had been performed by an unlicensed fuels contractor. Upon further investigation, TSSA confirmed that Timothy Foster had been previously convicted of a similar offence in 2011, installing a propane furnace without holding the necessary certification.

Mr. Foster pled guilty in the Ontario Court of Justice in Kingston to removing and installing fuel appliances without being licensed as required by both the Fuel Oil Regulation and the Gaseous Fuels Regulation under the Technical Standards and Safety Act, 2000. Taking Mr. Foster’s previous conviction into consideration, the court sentenced him to a five-day jail term on each offence – to be served concurrently.

“Working on fuel-fired appliances without a TSSA license is not a mere administrative offence,” said John Marshall, Director of TSSA’s Fuels Safety Program. “Licensing is critical to ensure fuels contractors are appropriately trained and aware of provincial safety regulations. This should be a stern reminder that breaking Ontario’s safety laws can result in serious penalties, including incarceration,” added Mr. Marshall.

Anyone installing, repairing or servicing fuel-fired appliances must possess valid TSSA authorization and heed all applicable safety standards. If in doubt, contact TSSA toll-free at 1-877-682-8772 to confirm whether a fuels contractor, technician or licence holder is legally qualified.