Kitchener-Waterloo Contractors Support Campaign to Shut Down College of Trades

TORONTO, July 18, 2012 /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 another association joining the fight. The newest coalition member is the Grand Valley Construction Association (GVCA), whose 650-plus member companies come from communities such as Cambridge, Guelph and K-W.

"The way the College of Trades is going, it is a run-away train," said Martha George, President of the GVCA. "It will have the power to limit the number of young people entering the trades, leading to higher construction costs. And it will put a new burden on employees and employers through the skilled trade tax - a tax imposed without any input from the industry. In my opinion this is being shoved down our throats."

This brings the number of organizations united as part of this campaign against the Ontario College of Trades to 15. 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)

"We're pleased tradespeople and employers from across the province are joining in the fight to stop the College of Trades and its tax plan," said Sean Reid, Chair of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition. "Opposition to this bureaucratic boondoggle will only keep growing."

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.

"If Ontario government truly wants to attract more people to skilled trades, it should shut down the College, and scrap the trades tax," added Reid. "An $84 million tax on trades is not a career incentive, it's a jobs killer."

About the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition
Members of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition employ more than 85,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario.

The Coalition includes:

• Conestoga Heavy Construction Association
• Durham Regional Heavy Contractors Association
• Grand Valley Construction 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

Danna O'Brien, Playbook Communications. [email protected]
416-500-0699

Sean Reid, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and Coalition chair, [email protected]
289-335-1181