Canada's utilities sectors are managing two aging systems at the same time: critical infrastructure and the workforce that has kept it operating for decades.
Water, wastewater, electricity, telecommunications and other critical services must remain reliable, even as infrastructure ages, regulations evolve and skilled labour becomes harder to find. Aging assets require more inspections, maintenance and emergency repairs, increasing demand for qualified workers at a time when experienced talent is becoming harder to replace.
Sources:
(1) Canada's Core Public Infrastructure Survey: Required renewal budgets, 2022
(2) Building Canada’s Future Electricity Grid, January 2026
(3) Telecom Order CRTC 2026-50
Together, these trends point to a period of unprecedented infrastructure renewal across Canada's utilities sector. Electrification, climate resilience initiatives and infrastructure modernization are increasing the volume of capital projects, placing additional pressure on organizations to mobilize qualified workers safely and efficiently.
For operational and safety leaders, aging infrastructure creates challenges that extend well beyond maintenance. Older assets often require more frequent inspections, emergency repairs and specialized work, increasing worker exposure to confined spaces, excavation, electrical hazards and other high-risk activities while essential services remain online.
Modernizing infrastructure also means investing in the people who maintain it. Experienced workers bring valuable knowledge of legacy equipment, site-specific hazards and safe work practices. With many approaching retirement, organizations need to preserve that expertise while ensuring the next generation of employees and contractors has the qualifications, training and site-specific knowledge required to work safely.
Organizations are addressing these challenges through a combination of operational controls, workforce development and contractor management. The following practices can help reduce risk.
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Challenge
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Best practices |
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Improve safe access across aging assets
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Preserve knowledge as the workforce ages
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As utilities take on larger renewal projects, much of the work is performed by specialized contractors. That means infrastructure modernization depends not only on engineering expertise but also on the ability to verify that every contractor arriving on site is qualified, trained and prepared for the work ahead. Contractor management becomes an important part of maintaining safety, consistency and operational continuity across increasingly complex projects.
Strong contractor management programs help organizations:
Assess contractor readiness before emergency work is required
Track training, certifications, insurance and compliance requirements in one place
Apply consistent requirements across projects and regions
Prioritize oversight for higher-risk activities such as confined space entry, excavation, electrical work and environmental services
Verify contractor qualifications and compliance before work begins and maintain visibility throughout the project
With greater visibility into contractor readiness, organizations can reduce administrative delays while supporting safer, more consistent work across their operations.