Ontario College of Trades In Full Retreat As Opposition Mounts

Mystery fees, botched ratio reviews & missed deadlines latest proof secretive, disorganized College won't launch January 1^st

TORONTO, Oct. 25, 2012 /CNW/ - With just 9 weeks to go before the Ontario College of Trades is scheduled to send tax bills out to tradespeople and small businesses owners across the province, the Ontario College of Trades has gone into full retreat. The College is missing deadlines, refusing to respond to inquiries and leaving Ontario tradespeople in the dark about the cost of the job killing trades tax.

"In the face of mounting scrutiny, you would think the College would provide more information to tradespeople but they're doing the exact opposite," says Sean Reid, Chair of the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition. "They're in full retreat, refusing to provide simple information, such as how much the trades tax will cost."

In recent weeks the Stop The Trades Tax campaign has ratcheted up the pressure on the College. New members continue to flood in to the campaign, increasing membership to over 4,000 employers of more than 100,000 tradespeople across the province.

"We now expect the College will delay the January 1^st start date and the implementation of the trades tax in response to our opposition," says Reid. "But these tricks won't fool anybody and it won't quell our opposition. Delaying the trades tax isn't enough, it needs to be stopped."

The proof that the College of Trades will have to delay their start date continues to mount:

• The College is set to open its doors in 9 weeks, and it has yet to extend to simple courtesy to Ontario trades people and small business owners of saying how much the tax will be.
• The College has yet to layout its vision for what Ontario tradespeople will get in return for a tax the industry hasn't asked for.
• The College is woefully behind in its commitments to consult with the industry on journeyperson/apprenticeship ratios.
• The College continues to skirt accountability and transparency by putting news releases out late on Friday afternoons, which isn't the pattern of an organization that wants to work with industry.

"We've said from the beginning the College lacks transparency and accountability - and they've done nothing but further alienate the industry they claim to support," says Reid. "Our campaign continues to grow and gain momentum. We're calling on workers and employers across the province to join the campaign and show the McGuinty government nothing less than closing the College's doors for good will satisfy Ontario tradespeople."

For more information on how tradespeople across the province are working to scrap the trades tax and shut down the Ontario College of Trades visit www.stopthetradestax.ca.

About the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition

The Ontario Construction Employers Coalition was formed in September 2011 by 8 major provincial construction associations. The Coalition has grown to include 19 associations whose members employ more than 100,000 skilled tradespeople across Ontario. The Coalition regularly receives calls from interested individuals, employees and employers in a variety of sectors concerned about the College and its job killing tax. To learn more about the Coalition and the Stop The Trades Tax Campaign please visit: www.stopthetradestax.ca.

The Coalition includes:

• Conestoga Heavy Construction Association
• Durham Region Heavy Contractors Association
• Durham Region Home Builders' Association
• Grand Valley Construction Association
• Greater Toronto Sewer & Watermain Contractors Association
• Hamilton & District Heavy Construction Association
• HCAT - Heavy Construction Association of Toronto
• National Capital Heavy Construction Association
• Heavy Construction Association of Regional Niagara
• LDCA - London and District Construction Association
• Merit Openshop Contractors Association of Ontario
• OEL - Ontario Electrical League
• OGCA - Ontario General Contractors Association
• ORBA - Ontario Road Builders Association
• OSWCA - Ontario Sewer & Watermain Construction Association
• OCA - Ottawa Construction Association
• PCA - Progressive Contractors Association of Canada
• RESCON - Residential Construction Council of Ontario
• Sarnia Heavy Construction Association

SOURCE: Ontario Construction Employers Coalition

Jessica Georgakopoulos, Playbook Communications, [email protected], 416-994-7901

Sean Reid, Progressive Contractors Association of Canada and Coalition chair, [email protected] 289-335-1181