Before you pay a contractor: what your province's rules say

No province caps renovation deposits by law. Ontario's own guidance recommends no more than 10 percent as a down payment, Quebec's consumer protection rules generally bar a contractor who signed at your home from taking any payment during your 10 day cancellation window, and Alberta requires a bonded prepaid contracting licence before money moves up front on a contract signed away from the business premises. Everywhere, a payment schedule tied to completed work in a written contract is what protects the money.

It depends entirely on the province. In Quebec, yes: an RBQ licence is mandatory for renovation work, and checking the register is the first step. In Ontario and Alberta there is no licence for general renovation contractors (Ontario's HCRA licence covers new home builders only), so the checks that exist are the trade licences (electrical, gas), municipal licences, insurance and references. British Columbia licenses new home builders and building envelope renovators only.

A licence, backed by a security bond, required of any business that solicits or signs home improvement contracts away from its premises and takes any money before the work is fully done. The deposit itself is the trigger. Service Alberta explains the licensing condition and how to check it.

For renovations, mostly no: Ontario and BC have no renovation deposit protection or compensation fund, and the remedies are the contract and the courts. Quebec's licence bond and Alberta's prepaid contracting bond can stand behind payments to licensed businesses. New homes are different: Tarion (Ontario), GCR (Quebec), the 2-5-10 warranty (BC) and Alberta's new home warranty all protect new home buyers.