4. June 6, 2008 — Not only should there be compulsory certification for trades in Ontario but in all provinces. First off, they represent a dying middle class sector represented by the wage they deservedly get paid. Secondly, you don't go through an apprenticeship so you can compete with an unlicensed fly-by-nighter submitting a cut-throat quote on something just because "they" call themselves tradesmen. Thirdly, a foreman on a busy worksite really doesn't have the real time required to properly train a prospective "tradesmen" the much required theory of the chosen trade. All the prospective "tradesmen" learns is how to do a cut-throat, under-cutted job fast. Respond to this comment

William Vester, Joiner, Langley, B.C.

3. June 5, 2008 — Anyone who believes that this is a good idea needs to take a close look at the existing compulsory trades to see the drawbacks. While I strongly support training and education I do not support the bureaucracy and the rigid restrictions that compulsory certification will create. Once a scope of work is defined for these professions and added to the Trades Qualifications and Apprenticeship Act(TQAA), only those persons licensed or registered as apprentices will be able to perform the work within that skill set.
Will only carpenters be able to install plywood backing? Can my personnel apply fire retardant paint to the backing that they will be mounting a panel to or will we need to hire a painter? Will a non-registered individual (say a helper) be able to assist in a task that is now defined by the compulsory certification? If it is anything like my trade, the answer is no and you will be fined by the Ministry of Labour for doing so.
As an electrical contractor I have experienced all of these problems first hand, along with restrictive ratios that limit employment opportunity. (We are required to employ three electricians for every one apprentice.) I have had to fire a fifth year apprentice, not because of a work shortage or for a problem but because I could not replace an electrician that had left and I was over my ratio.
So I say to all of those in favor of compulsory certification: Be careful of what you wish for. Go out and speak to those affected, for if there is one certainty it is that many of the freedoms and the flexibility that you currently enjoy will be lost. Respond to this comment

Walter Pamic, Vice President, Power-Tek Electrical Services, Ottawa, Ontario

2. June 5, 2008 — Establishing an independent body to evaluate the criteria by which Skilled Trades can achieve compulsory certification and establishing an independent body to approve or reject an application for compulsory certification would be fundamentally better than the current process. The implementation of compulsory certification for those Trades that meet the criteria would enshrine support of a standard, independent apprentice system.
Training, like education, is a form of investment in human capital and has long been regarded by policy-makers as essential to both national competitive advantage and to the long-term well-being of workers. Apprenticeship is a unique form of education where apprentices not only learn skills in an academic setting but also learn in a practical, work-based environment. The apprenticeship system has been a crucial provider of training in Canada, particularly for the skilled trades for which it remains the principal means of entry. Such an apprentice system will continue to be necessary, if not more so, due to the looming skilled trade shortage. Respond to this comment

Andrew Sefton, Executive Director, Ontario Painting Contractors Association

1. June 4, 2008 — What does this mean? Is it really a method of making sure that all people in the trade are being properly trained or just a way of increasing bureaucracy?
We have heard that licensing will help reduce the underground economy. Just as soon as the authorities make sure all licensed contractors are operating properly, then the authorities will go after the underground economy. In the meantime more red tape bureaucracy is required to look after the licensed contractors. The contractors want to make it so hard for people to operate unless they are licensed that it will be impossible for a new small business to start up and be legit.
There are so many rules and regulations that a licensed contractor has to charge much more than an unlicensed contractor. The customer gets a price from a licensed and unlicensed contractor and goes with the lower price. The inspectors do not have the time to find the unlicensed contractor and may not have the time to look into a complaint by the customer who took the lower price.
Perhaps there should be separate set of inspectors that just work on unlicensed contractors. Maybe there are just too many licensed contractors or not enough inspectors.
Maybe there should be legislation that allows for fines and/or imprisonment of customers that hire unlicensed contractors or use tradesmen that are not certified. If we put enough customers in jail and published their plight, no one would dare use an unlicensed contractor or an uncertified tradesman.
Maybe there is no solution to the problem, just more bureaucracy. Respond to this comment

Gordon Pritchard, President, Major Air Systems Ltd., Richmond Hill, Ontario