London and District Contractor Support Campaign to Shut Down College of Trades

TORONTO, Aug. 8, 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 London and District Construction Association (LDCA) whose 500-plus members come from counties such as Bruce, Huron, Perth, Middlesex, Oxford and Elgin.

"The way we see it, the Ontario College of Trades is another layer of bureaucracy that is imposing yet another tax on trades people and employers who already pay licenses and countless other fees to the government," said Derek Smith, LDCA executive director. "It's a double tax, and we're going to fight it every step of the way."

This brings the number of organizations united as part of this campaign against the Ontario College of Trades to 16. 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)

"The Ontario College of Trades is a bureaucratic boondoggle, and that's becoming clear to more and more tradespeople and employers by the minute," said Sean Reid, Chair of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition. "Our campaign to stop the College 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.

"The trades tax amounts to an $84 million tax grab that will affect all Ontarians," said Susan McGovern, vice-chair of the Coalition. "It will drive up costs for everything from a haircut to a new roof. We're encouraging all Ontarians to urge their MPP to stop the tax and shut down the Ontario College of Trades."

About the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition
Members of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition employ more than 85,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario. They've launched the website www.stopthetradestax.ca, to provide Ontarians with more information about their campaign to scrap the trades tax and shut down the Ontario College of Trades.

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
• London and District Construction Association
• 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

SOURCE: Ontario Construction Employers Coalition

For further information:

Jessica Georgakopoulos, Playbook Communications. [e-mail]
613-787-2001 ext. 161

Susan McGovern, Assistant Executive Director, OSWCA and GTSWCA and Coalition vice-chair, [e-mail] 416-206-6645