4. Enhancing mobility

• By bringing all trades back under the rubric of the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act; insisting on mandatory certification; and expanding enforcement measures for both individuals and employers, Ontario can play a leading role in improving and expanding the Red Seal program and improving the mobility of skilled workers. Compulsory certification will also improve apprenticeship program completion rates.
• Ontario should help to set Pan Canadian standards, based on industry needs for all occupations identified as suitable for the apprenticeship training model. These standards should cover all aspects of training, including on-the-job and in-school training, training qualifications, examinations, and certifications.
• The government should make the costs of moving and relocation tax deductible for qualified trades people moving from one area to another to work.

5. Promoting skills utilization

• Increasing access to and improving the completion of bona fide apprenticeship training in Ontario will mean little if there are no decent jobs available for skilled trades people.
• Ontario must play a leadership role in developing a jobs strategy that takes into account the unique needs of Northern and rural communities and develops a broader vision for long-term, sustainable jobs.
• Enforcing the regulations contained in the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act is crucial for ensuring that employers hire qualified, certified trades people, to ensure that standards are being respected and that health and safety is promoted in the workplace. Government enforcement measures will help to reduce the underground economy, create greater demand for skilled workers, and improve the mobility of the workforce.