The Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) is well underway, with two consultations that are important to Trades and Apprentices—membership and membership fees—having been completed on June 3, 2012. Ratio Reviews are currently underway for each trade. The ratio of journeypersons to apprentices is important in maintaining the quality of apprenticeship training and to ensure that apprentices are not used simply as cheap labour to displace qualified journeypersons.
The OCOT is in the process of developing a comprehensive set of regulations to integrate “existing” regulations, as well as the two pieces of legislation that govern trades and apprenticeship training.
While the College offers important avenues to improve authentic apprenticeship training and the self-governance of authentic trades, there are still concerns that certain types of occupations have been included under the rubric of “trades” that do not offer the full range of training and skills development normally associated with authentic, whole trades. Many of these kinds of trades affect workers in the services sector who themselves may not realize they will be subject to the rules, regulations and legislation governing the College of Trades.
The scope of trades included in each division of the College can be found online at:
www.collegeoftrades.ca/about/legislation-and-regulations
OFL affiliates with members who engage in the Service occupations and other divisions listed on the site are strongly advised to contact the OFL’s Apprenticeship Committee to ensure they are apprised of OCOT implications for their members.
More information about the Ontario College of Trades can be found at: www.collegeoftrades.ca
