Crane Operators Welcomed to Canada Under New ELMO Pilot Project
Canada is making it easier for crane operators to enter the country through its new Expedited Labor Market Opinion (ELMO) pilot project. In Canada, crane operators operate cranes or draglines to lift, move, position or place machinery, equipment and other large objects in a variety of work situations. These include construction sites, industrial sites, ports, rail yards and open pit or strip mines.
Crane Operator Duties
According to ELMO, crane operators in Canada can be called upon to operate a variety of cranes to perform numerous tasks. Some examples include:
- Tower cranes
- Pile-driving cranes
- Dredging cranes
- Gantry cranes
- Locomotive cranes
- Bridge or overhead cranes
- Offshore oil rig cranes
- Ship or barge-mounted cranes
- Dragline cranes
In addition, crane operators may be called upon to do pre-operational inspections, calculate crane capacities and weight for rigging and hoisting, assemble tower cranes on site and perform routine inspections and maintenance.
Crane Operator Qualifications
ELMO specifies that crane operators seeking to work in Canada must have the following qualifications:
- A high school diploma or equivalent
- Completion of a 1-3 year apprenticeship program OR equivalent industry or college courses
Alberta also requires that crane operators be certified on the type of crane they are operating. Certification is required on certain types of cranes in British Columbia but not others. Both provinces require crane operators to have a provincial license if they plan to drive mobile cranes on public roads.
Crane Operator Wages
According to ELMO, crane operator wages vary according to region. Crane operators earn the highest wages in northern Alberta ($32.15/hour) and the lowest wages on Vancouver Island ($24.94/hour).
For further information on the ELMO pilot project and/or working as a crane operator in Canada, please visit the official ELMO web site.
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