Scaler Mobility

Under the Ontario Labour Mobility Act, professional and skilled workers already certified, licensed or otherwise recognized formally as being able to practice elsewhere in Canada can apply to be certified in that occupation in another province without having to complete additional material training, experience, examinations, assessments or testing.

In Ontario, scalers are professionals that determine the quantity and quality of harvested Crown forest resources. Scalers must be proficient in identifying log species, determining defect, product/grade and quantity of the resource.

Both the measurement of Crown forest resources and the licensing of scalers are regulated through sections 15, 16 and 17 of Ontario Regulation 167/95 of the Crown Forest Sustainability Act.

Species Identification

A Scaler must be able to identify the following species by geographical region:

Boreal Region

• White Pine
• Red Pine
• Jack Pine
• White Spruce
• Black Spruce
• Balsam Fir
• Cedar
• Tamarack (Larch)
• White Birch
• Poplar

Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region

All species listed above for the Boreal Region and the following species:

• Hemlock
• Maple
• Yellow Birch
• Oak
• Beech
• Ash
• Elm
• Basswood
• Hickory
• Black Walnut
• Butternut
• Ironwood (Hornbeam)
• Black Cherry

Methods of Measurement

A scaler must be able to measure using the following methods:

Boreal Region

• Cubic Method - Fixed length material up to and including 5.7 metres in length.
• Cubic Method - Long timber material 5.9 metres and longer.
• Cubic Method - Grading white and red pine.
• Stacked Wood Method
• Tree Length Method

Great Lakes - St. Lawrence Region

• Cubic Method - Fixed length material up to and including 5.7 metres in length.
• Cubic Method - Long timber material 5.9 metres and longer.
• Cubic Method - Grading white and red pine.
• Stacked Wood Method
• Tree Length Method
• Cube Grade Method - Grading hardwood.

Ontario's Approach to Accomodate Scaler Mobility

These requirements apply to all scalers licensed in Ontario to measure Crown forest resources:

• An out of province Scaler, upon application and payment of the Scaler’s Licence fee of $15 as set out in regulation, will be issued an Ontario Scaler’s Licence.
• An out of province scaler who has been issued an Ontario Scaler’s Licence must complete a check scale to ensure he/she has proficiency in measuring in the region of the province in which he/she intends to work. This requirement is consistent for all scalers licensed to measure Crown forest resources in Ontario who move from one region of the province to the other.
• If an out of province scaler is issued an Ontario Scaler’s Licence and does not successfully complete the check scale, he/she will be provided the ability to complete on the job training for that specific region. When the scaler is successful in completing the next series of check scales, he/she will receive written approval that will allow him/her to measure Crown forest resources, as set out in regulation.
• The scaler will attend and successfully complete the next standard scaling refresher course for that region and, thereafter, successfully complete a scaling refresher course once every three years.
• The scaler will be required to renew his/her licence once every three years.
• The scaler must obtain annual written approval to measure Crown forest resources.