Renovating a backyard generates excitement for homeowners. Aspirations that have been contemplated for years are finally coming to fruition. But for an Ontario family, their dream of a backyard paradise turned into an expensive nightmare.
Beckwith, ON natives the Varleys hired Timbercraft Summer Structures Ltd., owned by Kirk Sturgeon, to build their backyard project last June. They were quoted $240,000, pending a permit being issued from their municipality, with work to take place in August, CTV News reported (1).
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After Sturgeon had been working on the project for several months, the Varleys were made aware he was doing so without a permit, and the Town of Beckwith issued a stop work order on May 1, 2025. After more problems were uncovered, the family eventually walked away from the project having spent approximately $96,000.
CTV News contacted Sturgeon, who denied allegations about the integrity of his projects. Sturgeon openly admitted to starting projects without permits, but blames the municipalities for their lack of efficiency.
“I understand you have a commitment to wash out dishonest or corrupt contractors in the industry, but that’s not me,” he wrote in an email. “We would happily return to correct the deficiencies, but we are not allowed back on the property at the owner’s request due to mental anguish,” he added in another message.
The lack of a licensing system for contractors
Unfortunately, Ontario law doesn’t have specific requirements for contractors to be licensed, CTV News found, though there are places (such as Toronto) that do require licenses from contractors — Other cities such as Ottawa, do not.
This patchwork approach across the province leaves much of the onus of consumer protection on the consumer themselves, putting them at risk to make the right judgment call on who to hire.
Most other provinces across Canada don’t require general contractors to be licensed to complete work, though municipalities may vary.
Quebec is one exception, as the Régie du bâtiment du Québec (RBQ) issues contractors licenses, which all contractors in the province must carry.
In Alberta, for example, the city of Calgary requires contractors to have a valid business license with the city in order to complete any work and get the required permits. Contractors that ask for pre-payments or progress-related payments are required to hold a license with the Government of Alberta as a pre-paid contractor, however.
Read more: Here are 5 expenses that Canadians (almost) always overpay for — and very quickly regret. How many are hurting you?
How to vet contractors
Unless you live in a specific city or jurisdiction, regulations for contractors across Canada is very limited. So what can consumers do to ensure they hire the right person for the job? Here are some simple tips you can follow.
- Ask for references: Don’t just rely on online reviews. Ask any potential contractor for a list of their past jobs and contract information for those clients. If they aren’t comfortable giving you those details, they might not be a good fit.
- Look for connections with reputable associations. Contractors that are a part of reliable associations — such as the Canadian Home Builders Association — likely have an established and trusted business. Some of these local associations have robust standards members must adhere to, making it unlikely that any of their members would do shoddy work.
- Stay away from cash jobs. While it might seem like a good cost-savings idea, a contractor offering a cash job can be a red flag. If there’s no written contract, and the contractor isn’t claiming the project as income, they’ve admitted to lying to the government. That shows a lack of character.
What to do if your project turns into a nightmare
Even if you do all the proper background checks and ask the right questions, the risk of having a contractor complete poor work or break municipal bylaws is still there. Here are some steps you can take if a contractor doesn’t complete your project (2).
- Review your contract. Double check the terms of your contract to see if there is any recourse for poor work or incomplete tasks. You might be able to go through mediation or arbitration as per the agreement.
- Have a frank conversation. Contractors are busy like all of us, and sometimes that can lead to less-than-ideal work that they might not be aware of. Reputable contractors that hear about their mistakes will want to fix them promptly. Make sure to communicate your issue professionally.
- Seek legal action. If your contractor is clearly in a breach of contract, you may be able to take your issue to small claims court to seek damages. If you take this option, be sure to get opinions on the work from other contractors to count as evidence and document all of the problems with photographs and detailed notes.
Hiring someone to complete major renovations on your property can feel financially risky. If something goes wrong, you could be out thousands. But being diligent with your selection process can mitigate much of that risk and lower your stress levels. Soon, you’ll have the newly renovated backyard or room you can enjoy — at a cost you planned for.
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Article sources
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CTV News: Eastern Ontario family’s dream backyard turns into a nightmare, raising questions about contractor oversight (1); Landes Bosch (2)
This article provides information only and should not be construed as advice. It is provided without warranty of any kind.