Monday, August 23, 2021

Shaping the Future of Ontario Construction

A new agency—Skilled Trades Ontario—is set to replace the Ontario College of Trades, and it includes key recommendations submitted by CLAC

By Ian DeWaard, Ontario Director

Out with the old and in with the new, as they say. Although in this case, the new borrows heavily from the old.

In May, Monte McNaughton, minister of labour, training, and skills development, introduced plans for a new agency called Skilled Trades Ontario (STO), which replaces the plagued Ontario College of Trades (OCOT). This fulfills an early postelection promise of the Ford government to wind down OCOT.

OCOT, which was introduced in 2009 by the prior Liberals, was often criticized for being too expensive for skilled trades workers ($120 per year), cumbersome, and slow due to its multilayered and complex governance structure. Its policing and enforcement activities were often seen as something that served the interests of only certain special interest groups—to the detriment of others.

We’re pleased that the Skilled Trades Panel’s recommendations include recommendations CLAC made in our submission to the panel. The new STO will assume OCOT’s important functions, such as

• registering apprentices,

• influencing the education standards and scopes of practice for trades,

• maintaining a public registry of compulsory trades, and

• conducting trade equivalency assessments.

It will provide an improved digital service delivery model, while serving to eliminate delays and confusion in the apprenticeship system. The province has handed enforcement and policing of compulsory trade certification and onsite activities back to Ministry of Labour, Training, and Skills Development inspectors, which CLAC had also advocated for.

Since this government was elected, CLAC has consistently opposed any efforts to reduce or compartmentalize skill sets within various trades’ scopes of practice. We’re pleased to see that the province has taken measures to protect the credentials and scopes of practice for compulsory trades.

Even though the legislation has now been approved, the launch date for the new organization is still unclear. A board of directors needs be established, and various regulations and bylaws still need to be developed.

Ongoing consultations will determine how STO will evaluate new trades, and how to manage future possible additions or overlaps in scopes of practice. CLAC continues to participate in that process and to put forward the best ideas of our skilled trade and apprentice members. You can read our submission to the government (“CLAC Submission to the Skilled Trades Panel Phase 2 Consultation”) on Your Voice under the Policy Briefs section.

The most pressing challenge in the construction industry is the growing shortage of new entrants to meet workforce demands, and to do so in a way that is inclusive, safe, and equitable. In our view, the STO is better poised than OCOT to promote the skilled trades as a viable career option. We’re grateful to have this chance, on behalf of our members, to shape the future of Ontario’s construction workplaces.

Shaping the Future of Ontario Construction

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