News
Campaign to Shut Down the Ontario College of Trades Gains More Support

July 3, 2012, Toronto, ON /CNW/ – The Ontario Construction Employers Coalition campaign to
urge the McGuinty government to shut down its newly formed Ontario College of
Trades gained further momentum today with two more associations joining the
fight.

July 3, 2012, Toronto, ON /CNW/ – The Ontario Construction Employers Coalition campaign to
urge the McGuinty government to shut down its newly formed Ontario College of
Trades gained further momentum today with two more associations joining the
fight.

The new campaign
members are:

•       Heavy Construction Association of
Regional Niagara

•       Hamilton & District Heavy
Construction Association

"We'd
like to speed up infrastructure spending, not see it slowed down by another
layer of cost and bureaucracy," said Bob Hunter, President of the Heavy
Construction Association of Regional Niagara. "The College of Trades will
amount to nothing more than a tax grab and bureaucratic roadblock."

This
brings the number of organizations united as part of this campaign against the
Ontario College of Trades to 14.

The
Ontario College of Trades is proposing to impose the following annual
membership fee ranges:

● $50 – $100 for Apprentices

● $100 -$200 for Journeypersons

● $100 – $600 for Employers depending on whether they are
small, medium or large

● $50 – $100 for a new class of Tradesworkers (compulsory
and voluntary)

"Construction
employers from across the province are uniting in the fight to stop the College
and its tax plan," said Sean Reid, Chair of the Ontario Construction
Employers Coalition. "An $84 million tax on trades doesn't just send a
shiver through the industry; it will drive up costs for all Ontarians."

In a
formal submission to the Ontario College of Trades, the Coalition outlined
several concerns, including a lack of transparency and information around the
College's budgetary requirements, future business plans, and how the College
will be financially accountable to Ontarians.

"Ontario
has struggled for years to attract more people to the skilled trades,"
added Reid. "The College and its bureaucracy will drive experienced people
out, and discourage many from considering trades as a career choice. That's the
sad reality, and that's why the College must be stopped."

About
the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition
Members of the Ontario Construction Employers
Coalition employ more than 80,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario.

The
Coalition includes:

•       Conestoga Heavy Construction
Association

•       Durham Regional Heavy Contractors
Association

•       Greater Toronto Sewer & Watermain
Contractors Association

•       Hamilton & District Heavy
Construction Association

•       HCAT – Heavy Construction
Association of Toronto

•       Heavy Construction Association of
Regional Niagara

•       Merit Openshop Contractors
Association of Ontario

•       OEL – Ontario Electrical League

•       OGCA – Ontario General Contractors
Association

•       ORBA – Ontario Road Builders
Association

•       OSWCA – Ontario Sewer &
Watermain Construction Association

•       PCA – Progressive Contractors
Association of Canada

•       RESCON – Residential Construction
Council of Ontario

•       Sarnia Heavy Construction
Association