Ontario politicians to debate College of Trades

November 23, 2011

Ontario politicians to debate College of Trades
http://www.dcnonl.com/cgi-bin/dcnhome.pl?rm=print_story&story_id=47731&source=article

TORONTO

Randy Hillier, Ontario Progressive Conservative Critic for Labour, challenged the Liberals to back down from implementing the College of Trades during the first Question Period of the Ontario Legislature today. Hillier said the collation of Ontario construction employers, which represents some of the largest trade associations in Ontario, has said the College of Trades will raise taxes and kill jobs.

He quoted the coalition as saying “the College will advance an agenda of broad-based … certification for … Ontario’s … trades, which will stifle job creation at a time when our province needs more jobs, not less.”

In a step towards completion, the College of Trades recently elected Ron Johnson, Deputy Director of Interior Systems Contractors Association of Ontario and the Interior Finishing Systems Training Centre, as chair of the Board of Governors and Bob Guthrie, the former Chief Executive Officer of the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission, as Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the College.

“Minister, will you put the brakes on your college of trades debacle before it cripples our construction employers in Ontario?” posed Hillier to Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Glen Murray.

In rebuttal, Murray said the Liberals have created 28,000 apprenticeships this year, and have a goal of 120,000.

“Unlike you, who divide labour and business and wanted to create a culture war in society, we’ve got a group of business leaders, academics and labour leaders sitting down to improve a record that’s already twice what your record was,” he said. “Anytime you want to debate that, my dear friend, I will debate that here anywhere, anytime.”

Hillier has accepted the Minister’s offering to debate the obstructive and devastating failures the College of Trades could have on Ontario’s construction sector.

The Ottawa chapter of the Ontario Electrical League (OEL) has offered to host the debate on Nov. 28.

“The Minister made it quite clear today that he is incredibly proud of his government’s record and that he is willing to debate me regarding the College of Trades anytime, anywhere,” said Hillier. “I expect that the Minister will stay true to his word and accept the gracious invitation from the OEL to debate the merits of the College of Trades with me.”

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