At HRAI’s Ontario College of Trades (OCOT) Information Session held on Thursday, November 1, 2012 at the Homewood Suites in Mississauga, ON, OCOT CEO and registrar Bob Guthrie, addressed a crowd of approximately 50 people. He discussed the college’s role within the 157 skilled trades across the province, which includes: policing the 22 compulsory skilled trades, as well as promoting apprenticeships and training. The mood at the meeting appeared mixed regarding the college opening in early 2013. When it does open, all apprentices and journeypersons in the 22 compulsory trades will be required to pay annual fees to the college. Apprentices will be required to pay $60/year, while journeypersons will be required to pay $120/year. The membership fees are the lone source of funding for the OCOT, which will have an operating budget of approximately $22 million for 2013. Linda Jones, manager of standards and assessments for the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities also gave a brief presentation on the history of the OCOT. HRAI is holding more OCOT information sessions in the coming weeks.
