Federal Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney slams Ontario's plan for compulsory certification of carpenters

TORONTO, April 4, 2014 /CNW/ - The Stop the Trades Tax Campaign welcomes media reports that federal Employment and Social Development Minster Jason Kenney will today call on the Ontario Liberal government to put a stop to its job-killing plan to force compulsory certification on carpenters throughout the province.

"Minister Kenney is absolutely right to criticize Ontario's short-sighted, job-killing plan to push compulsory certification on the construction industry," says Sean Reid, spokesperson for the Stop the Trades Tax campaign. "The Ontario Liberal government's scheme will push thousands of carpenters and handymen out of work. Unfortunately, this is just one more way the College of Trades is a drag on Ontario's already fragile economy."

The College of Trades drive for broad based compulsory certification of tradespeople means Ontario is moving in the opposite direction of most provinces, which are instead trying to make the skilled trades easier to work in.

"Hats off to Minister Kenney for bringing some attention to this issue. Ontario is facing a shortage of workers in construction and rather than helping the industry to address this labour crisis, the Liberal government is more interested in building barriers to job creation," said Reid. "We need to create jobs and expand opportunities for young people by making skilled trades more attractive and accessible, not find ways to punish everyone who swings a hammer to support their family."

"It is time for this government to once and for all to stand up for hardworking tradespeople, preserve their jobs and livelihoods and stop its drive to impose compulsory certification across the construction industry."

SOURCE: Ontario Construction Employers Coalition

Jessica Georgakopoulos, [email protected], 416-994-7901; Sean Reid, Stop The Trades Tax Campaign spokesperson, [email protected], 289-335-1181 ext. 1