A Decade of Consistency and Care: Celebrating 10 Years of ASCA

Today marks the 10th anniversary of the Alberta Safety Codes Authority (ASCA). Since its inception in 2016, ASCA has evolved into a cornerstone of Alberta’s safety codes system, serving 305 municipalities and the approximately 1.7 million Albertans who live in these communities  

The success of the last decade has been built on a foundation of collaboration As Sanela Galic, associate vice president of ASCA, explains: 

“We’re especially proud of the agencies we work together with to deliver services, building capability, and learning side-by-side to support greater consistency across the province. We ensure public safety by educating and supporting owners, contractors and developers and by ensuring compliance and consistent delivery of services. Our collaboration with accredited agencies has been and continues to be essential to ASCA’s success.”  

A Legacy of Service and Reliability 

The scale of ASCA’s impact is significant: over the past 10 years, ASCA has overseen the issuance of 92,328 permits and the completion of 227,358 inspections. 

Here are key milestones that have defined ASCA’s first decade: 

• 2016 – ASCA is Established: Created following a provincial review to provide stronger oversight and consistency across Alberta. 

• 2019 – Automation via eSITE: Launched automated notifications for inspections and permit expiries, reducing administrative burdens for both agencies and permit holders. 

• 2020 – ASCA Mandate Expansion: Successfully integrated the Storage Tank System (STS) program, providing stability and clarity for stakeholders during the transition. 

• 2022 – Launch of eServices: Transformed the STS program from manual work into a modern, digital platform for intake and invoicing. 

• 2023 – Compliance and Enforcement Manual: Published a practical guide grounded in the Safety Codes Act to ensure transparent, risk-based decision-making province-wide. 

• 2024 – Digital Permit Records: Moved building, electrical, and gas records into the digital age, accelerating permit reviews and approvals. 

• 2024 – Client Support Services (CSS): Launched a dedicated service area to fill knowledge gaps and ensure administrative hurdles never stand in the way of safety. 

• 2025 – Real-Time Digital STS Inspections: Equipped inspectors with Starlink and tablets to provide instant inspection results, even in the most remote corners of the province. 

Looking ahead, ASCA’s focus is on strengthening trust and confidence in how the safety codes system works by being clear on minimum requirements, applying standards consistently, and making our decisions transparent, all in service of ensuring public safety. They will continue to invest in the health and capability of their service, working alongside agencies and communities to build modern, reliable safety codes services that Albertans can depend on, that supports community well‑being, and that enables prosperity across Alberta.