Political Action and News

   

COLLEGE OF TRADES

All these articles and opinions are with regard to the College of Trades which is currently going through readings in the legislature

 

 

October 27 - Ontario Passes Bill Creating College of Trades > Vince Versace, Daily Commercial News

Ontario has passed legislation that will create the College of Trades, a move the province believes will help modernize the current apprenticeship system. "Establishing the College of Trades recognizes the sector’s professionalism and will help Ontario produce the skilled workers we need to compete in tomorrow’s economy," John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, said in a statement. "The skilled trades are more important to Ontario’s future than ever before." Bill 183 passed today, Oct. 27, at Queen’s Park and it will allow the college to be established and implemented in phases with a 2012 target date to be fully operational... read more.

 

 

October 19 2009 - Merit takes issue with Bill 183 closure > Daily Commercial News

Hearings have ended on the bill designed to create a provincial trades college but the way they closed is of concern for the Merit OpenShop Contractors Association of Ontario.

“When the Conservatives started their filibuster, the Liberals realized what they were going to do, so they ramped up and introduced a bill with closure, which limits normal legislative review to take place in committee,” said David McDonald, president and government relations representative, MOCAO.

A clause-by-clause hearing on Bill 183, the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, wrapped up on Oct. 8. Two public hearings were also held at Queen’s Park during September by the Standing Committee on Justice Policy.

Bill 183 was originally introduced without closure and the order to introduce a bill with closure is designed to push the bill through, said McDonald... read more.

 

 

September 24 2009 - Deputation on the College of Trades > Deputation to the Standing Committee > Dave McDonald, MOCAO President

Merit OpenShop Contractors Association of Ontario was originally founded in the early 90’s after Union only bidding restrictions were introduced in the City of Toronto in 1990. Our main goal was to restore and protect fair and open bidding on public tenders paid for by the taxes of everyone. For this deputation, I would like to make the following points on why the whole College concept is flawed in relation to the Construction Industry. ...read more

 

 

May 22 2009 - Bill 183, College of Trades  Concerns with the College of Trades > Dave McDonald, MOCAO Chair

Below are my concerns with the College of Trades, below that is the message COCA has sent out regarding them. The biggest issue is that while the organization is supposed to be at arm’s length from the government, it is very much a creature of the Government, because... read more

 

   

September 23 2009 - Construction industry pushes to include apprentices in College of Trades > Daily Commercial News

Ontario apprentices should have an official place among the members of the proposed College of Trades, various construction industry representatives said at a recent public hearing.

"Currently the bill refers to its members as journeypersons and employers of journeypersons and sponsors of apprentices — it does not include apprentices as members and we believe it should," said Ed Frerotte, apprenticeship and training co-ordinator for the International Brotherhood of Boilermakers Local 128. "Apprentices are the future of the trade and should be named specifically and not just in the ‘other’ category."...read more.

 

September 22 2009 - Stakeholders want change in College of Trades setup > Daily Commercial News

The proposed College of Trades and its recommended governance structure require changes to improve representation, Ontario education, labour and small business leaders said at a recent public hearing. Bill 183, the Ontario College of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, proposes that the college be organized into four divisions representing construction, services, industrial and motive power. The self-governing body would also be governed by a board of 21 members appointed by an appointments council which would include four members from each divisions and five representing the public... read more

 

June 15 2009 - Minister backs Whitaker as best choice for College of Trades  > Daily Commercial News

When the province was looking for a College of Trades implementation advisor to help create the institution Kevin Whitaker was the standout choice, says an Ontario minister. “He brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record in pulling together this kind of report,” says John Milloy, Ontario’s minister of training... read more.

 

June 15 2009 - College of Trades panels had to come first, minister insists > Daily Commercial News

Apprenticeship ratios and compulsory certification panels will roll out before the College of Trades is up-and-running because they are issues that need immediate attention, says Ontario’s minister responsible. “What we want the college to do, as soon as possible in the early days, is to consider criteria and approaches to these issues...read more.

 

June 3 2009 - Proposed Ontario College of Trades risks creating more bureaucracy > Daily Commercial News

The governance model outlined for Ontario’s proposed College of Trades introduces a level of bureaucracy that concerns some industry stakeholders. Kevin Whitaker, implementation advisor for the college, recently delivered his report and recommendations about the arms-length self governing institution designed to promote skilled trades and modernize apprenticeship in Ontario. Legislation to help establish the college has been introduced at Queen’s Park for its first reading. "My greatest concern is that this is very bureaucratic... read more.

 

May 27 2009 - Critics Call for Halt on Ontario College of Trades Bill > Daily Commercial News

Legislation to establish Ontario’s College of Trades should be put on hold until conflict of interest allegations against the college’s implementation advisor are resolved, two industry organizations say. The Merit Open Shop Contractors Association of Ontario (MOCAO) and the Ontario Electrical League (OEL) have called for the legislation’s delay... read more.

 

May 1 2009   - College of Trades Report > Report by Kevin Whitaker,  Advisor to the Minister of Training

This report sets out a number of recommendations to support the creation of a College of Trades which, if adopted by the government will, in my view, contribute to the modernization of the apprenticeship and certification system in Ontario to make it more responsive to economic needs while enhancing the status and effectiveness of apprenticeship trades in the province...read more