When the government returns to Queen’s park next week, one of the first things on their agenda will be Bill 47, the Making Ontario Open for Business Act.
Bay of Quinte MPP and new Ontario Minister of Economic Development, Job Growth and Trade Todd Smith announced today in Belleville the government is ending the Ontario College of Trades.
He says the Act will create a one to one apprenticeship ratio, which is a game changer for construction.
Currently, some trades require a three to one ratio of journeypersons to apprentice, which according to Eric DenOuden, president of Hilden Homes, has stymied the growth in the industry.
He says they currently have one carpenter waiting to get registered with the College in order to start his apprenticeship but he needs to wait until another apprentice has completed their hours.
According to DenOuden, 85,000 trades people will be retiring in the next 10 years and there are not enough trades people to replace them.
He calls this Bill an opportunity as it opens up a career that provides good jobs and pays well.
Smith says this Bill will cut the red tape so Ontario can once again be a great place to invest, grow and create jobs.
Bill 47, Smith says, will boost job creation and investment by cutting unnecessary regulations, especially for young people looking to start their career in the trades.
The Act will replace the minimum wage increase with one that remains at $14 per hour until 2020, at which point it will rise with inflation.
The Act will also replace the current Personal Emergency Leave rules and instead ensure workers will be able to take up to three days for personal illness, two for bereavement and three for family responsibilities while maintaining leave provisions for victims of domestic or sexual violence.
Smith says “By reducing the red-tape burden we are once again making Ontario one of the best places in the world to invest and create jobs. And we believe that anybody who is prepared to work hard deserves a shot at a better job.”