Today, the Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce (OCC) released the following statement in response to the Government of Ontario’s announcement regarding the Making Ontario Open for Business Act. The announcement included a near full repeal of Bill 148, dissolution of the Ontario College of Trades (the College), and improvements to the journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio.

“Today’s announcement is welcome news for workers and businesses of all sizes throughout Ontario, as well as a bold step in creating a stronger and more prosperous province. On behalf of the Ontario Chamber Network, we are absolutely thrilled that the Government of Ontario is holding strong in its commitment to keep Ontario open for business. It is now more critical than ever to create an economy that ensures both employers and employees are prepared for the labour market needs of tomorrow.”

Bill 148, Fair Workplaces, Better Jobs Act, 2017

“The Government of Ontario is taking the right steps in building labour legislation that is both reasonable for employers and fair to workers. As Ontario’s business advocate, our position has always been clear: Bill 148 was too much, too fast. The compounding labour reforms and unintended consequences came at too high a cost to Ontario’s economy. We applaud the Government of Ontario for implementing balanced policies that make it easier to invest, start, and grow a business as well as build an economy that connects workers to jobs.

Ontario College of Trades

“Today’s news signals the provincial government’s commitment to making Ontario’s skilled trades apprenticeship system more responsive to the needs of the economy, and to addressing a dire labour shortage. The College has become overly focused on enforcement and regulation, limiting its ability to serve the public interest by attracting and training new tradespeople. The Ontario Chamber Network has long advocated for the College to modernize the apprenticeship application system, promote the skilled trades as a viable career option for young people, and revise the journeyperson-to-apprentice ratio framework to create more opportunities within the skilled trades. As these reforms were not made, the Ontario Chamber Network recommended to dismantle the College and return responsibility for trades regulation to the Province.”

source: media release, Owen Sound & District Chamber of Commerce