Ontario College of Trades proposed changes include shortening deeming periods

The Ontario College of Trades (the College) has issued a Notice of public consultations and it is calling for comments on Proposed Board regulations. The proposed regulations will: set the foundation for how the College governs the establishment of apprenticeship programs and carry over trade-specific regulations regarding hours, wage rates and ratios for some trades; set out the amount of notice that the College will provide to the public for meetings and hearings; and specify the geographic areas that the Appointments Council must consider when making appointments to the College’s governance structure. In addition, the College is calling for comments on the proposed board Regulation on Professional Misconduct. This consultation will define professional misconduct for the College’s members and set out what a member is and is not allowed to do. It will also guide the College’s complaints and discipline process. Members of the public will be able to file complaints with the College and the College will be able to investigate and render decisions on those complaints. The deadline for the receipt of comments for both regulations is December 3, 2012. Notice of this consultation is also posted on Ontario’s Regulatory Registry, along with a proposal that a Minister’s regulation be made to change the two-year deeming period for individual’s holding a valid Certificate of Qualification in a compulsory or voluntary trade under the Apprenticeship and Certification Act, 1998 or the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act (TQAA) and to provide deeming periods for other groups.The College has asked that a regulation be made to change the deeming period for individuals holding a C of Q (journeypersons) from two years to one year. The deeming period for apprentices would remain unchanged, at one year. In addition, it is proposed that the regulation include transitional deeming provisions for other groups including holders of a valid provisional certificate of qualification, valid letter of permission and holders of a Certificate of Apprenticeship in a TQAA trade.The comments due date for this is change is November 29, 2012.

To assist the industry in forming a clearer understanding of the College, the Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Institute (HRAI) will be hosting information meetings across the province in November. Representatives from the College, as well as the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (MTCU), will present the vision and rationale for the new organization and there will an opportunity for questions. The sessions will be held: November 1, 2012 (GTA/Mississauga); November 8, 2012 (London); November 9, 2012 (Windsor) NEW; November 22, 2012 (Belleville); and November 23, 2012 (Barrie).
For more information on these sessions or how to register, please contact Heather Grimoldby-Campbell at the HRAI office at 800-267-2231, ext. 238, or by e-mail at hgrimoldby@hrai.ca. Registration is also available online.

For more on the Ontario of College of Trades debate check out HPAC’s video interviews of Sean Reid, chair of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition and Ron Johnson, chair of the Ontario College of Trades board of directors.