October 6, 2011

Letter to the Editor

No justification for three to one apprenticeship ratios: Ontario Electrical League

To the Editor:

Re: International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers defends apprenticeship ratios

The contractors of the Ontario Electrical League believe that the people of Ontario have the right to know that decisions affecting the future of our young people are being made in a highly politicized environment.

To be frank, there is no justification for Ontario’s current 3:1 apprenticeship ratios. It’s not a matter of safety. It’s not a matter of a lack of work. It’s politics — plain and simple. This is why the contractors of the Ontario Electrical League felt that we could no longer stand idly by and remain on the sidelines.

It is clear to us that as a result of our campaign, politicians, the media, special interest groups and the public are all sitting up and paying attention to this issue. And pay attention they should.

While our fight is with the McGuinty Government and not the unions, it speaks volumes that groups such as the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers would see fit to wade into this debate - waving the flag and defending not their members so much as Premier McGuinty himself.

Really, you have to stop and ask yourself, “What’s going on here?”

Could it be that the same individuals who convinced the Premier to force the College of Trades upon us, despite a complete lack of evidence that there is a need for such a body, are now suddenly getting their collective backs up because they realize that the PC Party under Tim Hudak just might win this election and put an end to their sweetheart deal with the Liberal Party?

Let’s cut out the nonsense and the politics. Our young people deserve better. The time has come for a 1:1 apprenticeship ratio in Ontario.

Walter Pamic

Chair

Ontario Electrical League

Contractor Government Relations Committee

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