A Canadian Independent Contractor Agreement for Janitorial Services is a legally binding contract between a client and an independent cleaning service provider that establishes the terms under which janitorial and cleaning services will be performed. Unlike an employment agreement, this document defines a business-to-business or business-to-individual relationship where the janitorial contractor retains full control over how the cleaning services are delivered, including the methods, tools, and schedule used to complete the work.

Under Canadian law, the distinction between an employee and an independent contractor is critical because it determines obligations for income tax withholding, Canada Pension Plan (CPP) contributions, Employment Insurance (EI) premiums, and workers' compensation coverage. The Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) guide RC4110, titled 'Employee or Self-employed?', outlines the factors used to assess the nature of the working relationship. These factors include the level of control the payer exercises over the worker, ownership of tools and equipment, the chance of profit or risk of loss, and the degree of integration into the payer's business operations.

For janitorial services, a genuine independent contractor relationship typically exists when the cleaning company or individual operates their own business, provides services to multiple clients, supplies their own cleaning equipment and products, sets their own work methods and schedules, and bears the risk of business expenses and losses. The contractor must also be responsible for their own tax obligations, including filing a T2125 Statement of Business or Professional Activities with their annual income tax return.

This agreement also addresses important regulatory requirements specific to the Canadian cleaning industry. The Hazardous Products Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. H-3) and the Workplace Hazardous Materials Information System (WHMIS 2015) impose strict obligations on anyone handling hazardous cleaning chemicals. Contractors must ensure proper labelling of chemicals, maintain Safety Data Sheets, and provide worker training on hazard identification and safe handling. Provincial occupational health and safety legislation in each province adds further requirements for workplace safety in the cleaning sector.

A Canadian Janitorial Independent Contractor Agreement is essential when a business or property owner engages an independent cleaning company or sole proprietor to provide regular janitorial services for commercial premises, office buildings, retail spaces, industrial facilities, or residential properties. This agreement is particularly important when the cleaning arrangement involves ongoing or recurring services rather than a one-time cleaning job.

Property management companies frequently use this agreement when contracting with janitorial service providers to clean common areas, lobbies, hallways, and shared facilities in multi-unit residential buildings or commercial complexes. Under provincial tenancy legislation such as Ontario's Residential Tenancies Act (S.O. 2006, c. 17) and British Columbia's Residential Tenancy Act (S.B.C. 2002, c. 78), landlords have obligations to maintain rental properties in a state of good repair, and engaging a professional janitorial contractor helps fulfill these obligations.

Small businesses, professional offices, medical clinics, dental practices, and educational institutions commonly engage janitorial contractors for after-hours cleaning. In healthcare settings, additional requirements under provincial health regulations and infection control standards may apply, and the agreement should address these specialized cleaning protocols.

The agreement is also needed when a cleaning contractor will have unsupervised access to the client's premises. In such cases, the confidentiality and security provisions become critically important, as the contractor may have access to alarm systems, security codes, keys, and sensitive business information. The agreement should address these access arrangements and the contractor's obligations regarding security of the premises.

Without a formal written agreement, the client risks the CRA reclassifying the relationship as employment, which would create retroactive liability for unremitted CPP contributions, EI premiums, and income tax source deductions. The client could also face penalties under the Income Tax Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. 1, 5th Supp.) and the Canada Pension Plan Act (R.S.C. 1985, c. C-8) for failure to make required withholdings and contributions.

A legally effective Canadian Janitorial Independent Contractor Agreement must include the full legal names and addresses of both parties, including the province or territory in which each party is located. The agreement must clearly specify whether each party is an individual, corporation, partnership, or sole proprietorship, as this affects tax obligations and liability considerations.

The scope of services section should provide a detailed description of the janitorial tasks to be performed, including specific cleaning duties such as vacuuming, mopping, dusting, washroom sanitation, waste removal, window cleaning, and any specialized cleaning services. The service location, schedule, and frequency must be clearly defined. This detail helps establish that the client is contracting for specific results rather than controlling the day-to-day activities of the contractor, which supports the independent contractor classification under the CRA's RC4110 guidelines.

The compensation section should state the payment amount in Canadian dollars (CAD), the payment frequency, and the payment method. The agreement should address whether the contractor will charge Goods and Services Tax (GST) or Harmonized Sales Tax (HST) on invoices. Under the Excise Tax Act, contractors with annual taxable revenues exceeding $30,000 must register for and collect GST/HST. The agreement should require the contractor to provide their GST/HST registration number if applicable.

The independent contractor status clause is essential and should expressly state that the relationship is not one of employment. This clause should reference the CRA's criteria for independent contractor classification and confirm that the contractor is responsible for their own tax remittances, CPP contributions, and insurance coverage. The contractor should acknowledge that they are not entitled to employment benefits, vacation pay, or statutory holiday pay.

The supplies and equipment section should specify whether the contractor or client provides cleaning supplies, equipment, and chemicals. If the contractor provides their own supplies, this factor supports the independent contractor classification. The agreement should require compliance with WHMIS 2015 requirements for the handling, storage, and labelling of hazardous cleaning products.

Insurance provisions should require the contractor to maintain commercial general liability insurance, typically with a minimum coverage of $2,000,000 CAD, and to provide proof of coverage upon request. The agreement should address provincial workers' compensation requirements, as some provinces mandate coverage for certain industries regardless of the worker's employment status.

The governing law clause should reference the laws of the specific province and the federal laws of Canada applicable therein. Each province has its own employment standards legislation, occupational health and safety requirements, and workers' compensation framework that may affect the rights and obligations of the parties.