COR 2020 Certification in Ontario
Metrolinx, Infrastructure Ontario, the City of Toronto — Ontario's biggest clients now screen for COR 2020. We build your system to IHSA's 14-element standard, coach your internal auditor, and get you through the external audit.
- Built to ON's audit standard and certifying partners
- Fixed pricing: COR $20,000 · financing available
- A realistic COR 2020 plan — we compress every step you control
Book Your Free Assessment
Prefer to talk? Call or text 587-707-9176.
The Ontario program at a glance.
Who runs COR here
IHSA (Infrastructure Health and Safety Association) is the sole authority issuing COR in Ontario, under the COR 2020 standard. Ontario's Chief Prevention Officer accredits COR 2020 under Supporting Ontario's Safe Employers — which is what unlocks WSIB's largest rebates.
One stream for every size
Ontario has no SECOR — IHSA's COR 2020 is one standard scaled to firms of any size, and small employers complete the same audit. (Ignore blogs claiming an Ontario SECOR exists.) For very small companies not being pushed by a client, WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program can be the smarter on-ramp — we'll tell you straight which fits.
WSIB rebates — up to $300,000 a year
Ontario Safe Employers Rebate + Health & Safety Excellence: COR 2020 holders recognized by the Chief Prevention Officer can earn the Safe Employers Rebate for up to three years — minimum $3,000 a year, maximums of $300,000, $200,000, then $100,000. Along the way, WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program pays per-topic rebates scaled to your premiums ($2,000 to $50,000 per topic). The two can't be combined — we'll map which pays more for your size.
Who's asking for COR in Ontario?
COR isn't legislated — it's demanded. These are the clients that screen for it in ON:
- Metrolinx — COR mandatory for GCs bidding construction contracts since 2016, maintained for the contract's duration
- Infrastructure Ontario — prequalification requirement on major projects, expanding to direct-delivery real estate work
- City of Toronto, the TTC, and a growing list of municipalities and GCs flowing the requirement down to subcontractors
Who certifies you in ON.
Your certifying partner depends on your industry. We register you with the right one and work to their audit instrument.
| Certifying partner | Industry |
|---|---|
| IHSA | Construction, transportation & electrical utilities |
IHSA is Ontario's only COR certifier. WSPS, Workplace Safety North, and PSHSA are WSIB program providers — they don't grant COR.
What certification takes in Ontario.
- COR 2020 requires your health & safety system to be functioning for at least a year before the audit — the honest reason Ontario takes longer than the West. We build early so the clock starts sooner.
- Two people train through IHSA eLearning: a senior management rep (COR Essentials) and a permanent full-time internal auditor (four courses).
- Your internal auditor completes the 14-element COR 2020 audit through AuditSoft; an IHSA-approved external auditor follows.
- Pass marks are the toughest in Canada: 80% overall, 65% on every element, and 100% on legislated items.
- 3-year certificate with internal maintenance audits in years 2 and 3 earning your annual Letter of Good Standing.
Programs & pricing for Ontario.
Note: Ontario has no SECOR — IHSA's COR 2020 is one standard scaled to firms of any size, and small employers complete the same audit. (Ignore blogs claiming an Ontario SECOR exists.) For very small companies not being pushed by a client, WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program can be the smarter on-ramp — we'll tell you straight which fits.
SECOR
For small employers — typically crews under 10–20, depending on your province.
- Right-sized safety manual & policies
- Hazard assessments for your actual work
- Safe work practices & emergency plan
- Training guidance with your certifying partner
- Mock assessment before you submit
COR
For companies past the small-employer line — or whose clients demand full COR.
- Complete health & safety management system
- Every audit element built and ready to run
- Internal auditor training guidance
- Full mock COR audit with corrective plan
- Support through your external audit
12-month financing available on both programs. No long-term contracts. Certifying-partner course and audit fees are set by your province's partner and paid to them directly.
Serving Toronto & the GTA, Ottawa, Hamilton and beyond.
Toronto & the GTA · Ottawa · Hamilton · Mississauga · London · Windsor. Core industries: ICI construction, transit & infrastructure, transportation, electrical utilities.
Ontario questions, answered straight.
Is there a SECOR program in Ontario?
No — despite what some marketing sites claim. IHSA runs one COR 2020 standard scaled to any company size; small employers complete the same audit as large ones. If you're small and not being pushed by a client yet, WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program may be a better first step — we'll give you a straight recommendation on the free assessment.
Why does COR take longer in Ontario?
IHSA requires your safety system to be up and functioning for at least a year before the certification audit, and the pass marks are Canada's toughest — 80% overall, 65% per element, 100% on legislated items. The move is to start the build now so the 12-month clock starts now; we compress everything you can control.
What are the Ontario rebates worth?
Potentially the largest in Canada. CPO-recognized COR 2020 employers can earn the Safe Employers Rebate — $3,000 minimum a year, with maximums of $300,000 in year one. Smaller companies often do better in WSIB's Health and Safety Excellence program, which pays $2,000–$50,000 per completed topic depending on premium size. You can't stack them, so picking the right one matters.
Do Metrolinx and Infrastructure Ontario really require COR?
Yes. Metrolinx has required COR from general contractors bidding construction since October 2016, held through the life of the contract. Infrastructure Ontario made it a prequalification requirement the same year and keeps extending it to more project types. GCs on those jobs increasingly push the requirement down to their subs.
Get certified in Ontario — start with a free assessment.
We'll confirm the right stream for your headcount, which ON certifying partner you'll register with, and every fee involved — in one 30-minute call.