Ontario Electrical League Condemns Smears by College of Trades Appointee,
Demands Resignation
OTTAWA, Nov. 3 /CNW/ - The Ontario Electrical League today denounced biased and partisan comments made by the Acting Chair of the Ontario College of Trades, and called for his immediate resignation.
The Acting Chair, Patrick Dillon, commented to the Daily Commercial News (DCN) about building trades apprenticeship rules, which he oversees as a public appointee to the College of Trades. Mr. Dillon, who is leading public consultations on apprenticeship ratios, was quoted in the Nov. 1 online issue of DCN (http://dcnonl.com/article/id41288) as saying:
"…(Progressive Conservative Leader Tim) Hudak is out campaigning for election funds and is using …the Ontario Electrical League as mechanisms to do so via the ratio issue.
"Now, all of sudden, we have one employer association from all the PACs (Provincial Advisory Committees) who thinks (the ratios) are wrong and we have to do a consultation to deliver for that one association."
The Ontario College of Trades is a regulatory college established by the Ontario government to oversee the province's apprenticeship and skilled trades system. In addition to his role at the College of Trades, Mr. Dillon is the Business Manager and Secretary Treasurer of the Provincial Building and Construction Trades Council of Ontario.
"It is completely unacceptable for a public appointee of the Ontario Government, especially one who is serving as the Acting Chair of a supposedly impartial consultation, to smear stakeholder organizations that appear before them," said Mary Ingram, President of the Ontario Electrical League. "Mr. Dillon cannot continue in this position, and we therefore call for his immediate resignation."
Ingram added, "The Ontario Electrical League approached these consultations in good faith, as a leading stakeholder in Ontario's electrical industry. "How can we trust any decision made by the College of Trades if these partisan smears are allowed to stand?"
The Ontario Electrical League has long called for a reduction in the ratio of electrical journeypersons to apprentices, in line with ratios in almost every other province. Under provincial government rules, Ontario contractors must have three certified electricians for every apprentice compared with the 1:1 ratio in most other jurisdictions. This reduces job opportunities for young people and business opportunities for thousands of contractors. (More information on the ratios is available at www.supportontarioyouth.ca.)
"Mr. Dillon's comments give us strong reason for concern that the College of Trades cannot rule objectively on calls to reduce Ontario's apprenticeship ratios. As long as he is part of this process, these consultations are a sham."
About the Ontario Electrical League
The Ontario Electrical League (OEL) is a non-profit organization whose role is to promote, strengthen and represent Ontario's electrical industry. OEL provides communications, education, industry events and other services on behalf of its 2,500 members in 21 local chapters. League members include electrical contractors, electricians, apprentices, municipal utilities, electrical inspectors, distributors, manufacturers, manufacturers' representatives, consulting engineers, educators and service companies. For more information, visit OEL's website at www.oel.org.
For further information: For further information:
Mary Ingram, President, Ontario Electrical League
647-260-3080
[email protected]
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