February 25, 2008

Trades Training

Construction industry officials oppose making certification compulsory for more construction trades

Industry concerned over lost flexibility

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The current review of compulsory certification for the trades must consider how diverse trades in construction are before it makes any final decisions, state various industry association leaders.

“We are opposed to consideration of compulsory certification for the trades most commonly used by our industry,” says Rob Bradford Executive Director of the Ontario Road Builders’ Association. “If our current system is not broken, then why look for ways to fix or change our long-held processes and procedures?”

Tim Armstrong, Advisor to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, is conducting a review looking into the impacts an expansion of compulsory certification could have on individual trades that are currently voluntary.

The review covers health and safety, new apprentice registration, the number of apprentices to complete trades training, consumer protection, costs and the overall impact on the economy.

“The review is a good idea but it is a very complicated topic which is being oversimplified,” says Clive Thurston, President of the Ontario General Contractors Association.

“The issues of training, safety and education are important and ones the OGCA champions but compulsory certification flies in the face of issues our industry is facing.”

Attracting workers both domestic and from abroad, training and building capacity at colleges could all be hampered by compulsory certification of voluntary trades, various associations state.

“Our industry is looking for a lot of multi-skilled people,” explains Thurston. “If you start have compulsory certification, you start to create silos and you actually start to reduce your available workforce. We have a huge, diversified workforce.”

Currently 21 of the 140 skilled trades in Ontario, which involve apprenticeship, require compulsory certification.

Voluntary certification is left up to individual employers, workers and consumers to determine the level of training required to do the work.

Frank Zechner, Executive Director of the Ontario Sewer and Watermain Construction Association, says identifying areas and trades where compulsory certification can improve workplace safety should be key in the review.

“When there is a safety issue, such as for welders or crane operators, it makes a lot sense in order to minimize the risk,” says Zechner. “In the general labour category it does not make a lot of sense.”

Compulsory certification may increase apprenticeship registration for some trades, but could drastically reduce the labour force needed for other trades, such as those within the heavy civil construction sector, says Bradford.

“Our [heavy civil] labour force is not attracted to our industry to register or complete an apprenticeship. They are interested in learning their trade in a hands-on way,” explains Bradford. “For some of our entry-level workers, all they want to do is rake asphalt. Our sector has a different story to tell.”

Compulsory certification would also increase the costs of infrastructure at a time when the infrastructure deficits are front and centre in the eyes of governments and the public.

A restricted labour market due to additional requirements will only increase the cost of labour, says Bradford.

“The cost to government alone to enforce compulsory certification would be extensive,” adds Bradford.

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