What is Ontario One Call?

Ontario One Call operates as the province's centralized utility notification system. When a demolition contractor or excavation crew plans to dig anywhere in Ontario, they must call Ontario One Call and provide project details including location, type of work, and intended dig dates. The service then notifies all affected utility companies (gas, electricity, water, telecommunications, and others) operating in that area so they can mark the locations of their buried infrastructure.

Contacting Ontario One Call before breaking ground is not optional. Provincial law requires notification for any excavation work. Failing to call puts workers at serious risk of striking live power lines, gas pipes, or water mains, which can cause injury, death, or major service disruptions to the surrounding area. For demolition contractors operating across multiple job sites, Ontario One Call is an essential first step before any soil disturbance occurs, whether the work is a small utility cut or large-scale site clearing.

The service is free to contractors and funded by the utility companies themselves. Proper notification ensures safe excavation practices and protects both workers and underground infrastructure. Excavation and site clearing contractors depend on Ontario One Call coordination to plan their schedules around utility location marking timelines, typically allowing several business days for utilities to respond.