January 25th, 2022

Ford must make sure tradespeople have a voice in new agency: Gates

NIAGARA – NDP critic for Training, Trades and Apprenticeships Wayne Gates released the following statement on the Ford government’s announcement of the new crown agency Skilled Trades Ontario:

“It's about time. The Ford government rushed in to dismantle the College of Trades with no thought to what would replace it, as a result Ontario’s tradespeople have been in limbo for two years.

Moving forward, Ford needs to make sure that skilled trades people have a say on all training and certification decisions so that we can ensure the integrity of skilled trades is maintained to the highest standards.

With this in mind, we are concerned about the lack of representation on the Skilled Trades Ontario board by those directly from the trades. Those working in the trades and with labour know how best to keep their members and the public safe, they must have a more prominent voice on the board and in decision-making overall.”