b'OSWCA DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONS MESSAGEFINALLY, THE RIGHT FIX FOR ONTARIOS SKILLED TRADES SYSTEMPATRICK MCMANUS, DIRECTOR OF GOVERNMENT RELATIONS AND COMMUNICATIONSO ntario has been caughtIn hindsight, too much attentionis far outpacing the supply of in a classic catch-22:was paid to the College of Tradesskilled workers. employers cant findand not enough to shifting demo-enough skilled tradesgraphics and the increasing roleNarrowing the skills gap is no people to fill jobs, whileof the skilled trades. Now wereeasy task. But at least the govern-job seekers cant findplaying catch-up.ment now knows what it takes. appropriate trainingThe reforms in Bill 47 are bold; and apprenticeship opportunitiesDuring the next five years, onea welcome departure from more to work in the skilled trades.in five new jobs will be in theof the same old. They include For the longest time employers andskilled trades. At the same time,a moratorium on trade clas-skilled tradespeople have beenas many as 39 per cent of Ontariosifications, a 1:1 journeyperson-calling for bold measures to turnbusinesses cant find the skilledto-apprentice ratio, and a things around. Now its finallypeople they require. Exacerbatingwind-down of the OCOT. These happening. The governments Makingthe challenge is our agingmeasures have topped wish lists Ontario Open for Business Act is theworkforce. Ontario needs as manyfor years and for good reason. kind of reform that is long overdue.as 85,000 new skilled workers this decade. Thats to counter the babyThrough our involvement with boom exodus, as 21 per cent ofthe Ontario Skilled Trades Employers have tried hard tothe skilled workforce gets readyAlliance (OSTA), OSWCA has convince the Ontario governmentto retire. Quite simply, demandbeen a strong advocate for this to take a bold approach to elevatetype of significant change. the skilled trades. Modernize skills training. Cut red tape. Make it easier, not harder, for people toAs the Ontario College of Trades get into the skilled trades. TheTHE REFORMSpacks up and we breathe a provincial response, for years,collective sigh of relief, its time has been a letdown. The OntarioIN BILL 47 AREto refocus on what really matters: College of Trades (OCOT) madebridging the skills gap, promoting its debut in 2009.BOLD; A WELCOMEthe trades as a first career choice and creating a straightforward way of laying out all the options. Created by the previous govern- DEPARTURE FROMAnd, just as importantly, driving ment, it was supposed to be an industry-driven regulatory bodythe message that the skilled aimed at putting the skilled tradesMORE OF THE SAMEtrades have changed. Modern, on equal footing with other profes- multi-skilled tradespeople, sions. Instead, OCOT became aOLD. THEY INCLUDEequipped with hard and soft bureaucratic monster with a flawedskills, are a must as technology governance structure that didA MORATORIUMand the economy advance. not reflect industry. It jacked up licensing fees and fixated on theON TRADEWe are excited about these narrowest part of its mandate reforms and applaud the govern-regulatory enforcement.CLASSIFICATIONS, Ament for acting swiftly on them. Its wasted no time in breaking In fairly short order, OCOT went off1:1 JOURNEYPERSON- down years of excessive regula-the rails. It became the bane of bothtion and red tape. Now employers skilled tradespeople and industryTO-APPRENTICE RATIO,finally get to do what theyve been employers. Rocky relations with theasking all along: hire and mentor enforcement branch were beyondthe next generation of skilled repair. OCOT was a polarizingAND A WIND-DOWN OFworkers. Or simply put, just give distraction that was too broken andthose with a passion for the trades far-gone to reign back in.THE OCOT. a chance. 14H 2 OSWCA Winter 2018-19'