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Votatec is a wholesale LED tube lights supplier serving contractors and facilities across Canada. Shop direct T8 fluorescent replacements in 2ft, 3ft, 4ft and 8ft lengths, with Type A plug-and-play, Type B ballast bypass and Type C driver options. CSA certified for Canadian installs, up to 68% more efficient than the fluorescent tubes they replace.
The 2026 Fluorescent Ban: What Canadian Buyers Need to Know
Fluorescent tubes are now restricted in Canada. As of January 1, 2026, the federal government stopped the manufacture and import of most general-service fluorescent lamps, including 4ft T8, 4ft T12 and 8ft T12 tubes. The reason is mercury. Fluorescent lamps contain it, LED tubes don't.
Retailers can still sell existing stock for a while, so fluorescent tubes haven't vanished overnight. But replacement supply is shrinking and prices are climbing. For any Canadian facility still running fluorescent, the smart move is to switch to LED tube lights now, on your own schedule, before a failed tube forces a rushed order. Votatec stocks the wholesale LED tubes that drop straight into your existing fixtures.
LED Tube Light Applications by Building Type
Offices and Corporate Facilities
4ft T8 tubes in 3500K or 4000K for ceiling troffers and open-plan lighting. Low glare, instant-on, no flicker.
Schools and Education
Flicker-free 4000K tubes for classrooms and corridors. Quiet operation, long life, fewer maintenance call-outs.
Retail Stores
Crisp 4000K or 5000K tubes that make products and signage pop, with lower running costs than fluorescent.
Healthcare Facilities
Consistent, mercury-free light for clinics, labs and care homes. Daylight 5000K options for exam areas.
LED Tube Light Sizes and Specifications
2ft LED Tube (T8 / T5)
Compact tubes for under-cabinet, display and short fixtures. Common in retail and signage.
3ft LED Tube
A mid-length T8 tube for older fixtures sized between 2 and 4 feet.
4ft LED Tube (Most Common)
The workhorse. A 4ft T8 LED tube is the direct replacement for the most-used fluorescent in Canada. Typical wattage runs 9W to 22W, replacing 32W to 40W fluorescent.
8ft LED Tube (High-Output)
High-output tubes for warehouses, garages and industrial bays. Single-pin and double-ended options replace 8ft T12 fluorescents.
LED Tube Installation Types: A, B and C
The right type depends on your existing fixture and how much rewiring you want. Here's the short version.
Type A LED Tube (Ballast Compatible, Plug-and-Play)
Type A tubes work with your existing fluorescent ballast. You pull the old tube, drop in the LED, and you're done. It's the fastest retrofit and the lowest labour cost, ideal for facilities replacing tubes in volume. The trade-off is that you still depend on the ballast, so when it fails you replace it. Type A demand is climbing fast as Canadian buyers move off fluorescent.
Type B LED Tube (Ballast Bypass, Direct Wire)
Type B tubes run on line voltage with the ballast removed. There's a bit more wiring up front, but you cut the ballast as a future failure point and you save the energy the ballast used to draw. Best when an electrician is already on site or the ballast is near end of life.
Type C LED Tube (External Driver)
Type C tubes use a separate LED driver, much like a panel or downlight. It's the most efficient and most controllable option, with the best dimming, and the choice for new builds and full retrofits where performance matters most.
Colour Temperature Options for LED Tube Lights
- 3500K Neutral White - warm, comfortable light for offices and reception areas.
- 4000K Cool White - the most popular commercial choice, balanced and clean.
- 5000K Daylight - bright, high-contrast light for warehouses, healthcare and retail.
Why Canadian Contractors Buy Tubes Wholesale from Votatec
- Wholesale and project pricing - volume rates for contractors, integrators and procurement teams.
- CSA certified - every tube meets Canadian safety standards, ready for inspection.
- Stock for the ban - the T8 and T12 replacements facilities need, in the sizes they actually run.
- One supplier, full job - tubes, panels, high bays and fixtures from a single Canadian source.
- Fast quotes - send your fixture count, get pricing back within 24 hours.
- Ships Canada-wide - GTA, Vancouver, Montreal, Calgary, Edmonton, Ottawa and beyond.
LED vs Fluorescent Tubes: The Numbers
The case for switching isn't just the ban. It's the running cost.
- Up to 68% less energy than the fluorescent tube it replaces.[1]
- 25,000 to 50,000 hours rated life, versus 7,000 to 15,000 for fluorescent.[1]
- 2 to 3 year payback typical on a commercial retrofit, then it's savings.[1]
- No mercury - safer disposal and compliant with the 2026 phase-out.[2]
Get a Wholesale LED Tube Quote
Send us your fixture count and tube sizes. We'll match the right T8 replacement, confirm Type A, B or C, and return wholesale pricing within 24 hours. Ships across Canada.