Opposition to Trades Tax grows to include Ontario Hairstylists

The Stop The Trades Tax Campaign welcomes Regis Corp. as its newest member

TORONTO, March 12, 2014 /CNW/ - Opposition to the Ontario Liberal Government's trades tax grew today as franchises of Regis Corp. who employs between 2,500- 3,000 hairstylists joined the Stop The Trades Tax campaign.

"The College of Trades - and its trades tax - is a cost and regulatory burden that hairstylists simply cannot afford," said Lynda Murphy, spokesperson for the Ontario Hairstylists Association. "It is outrageous that hairstylists are being forced by the College to either pay a 600 per cent tax increase or not be eligible to work in Ontario. Hairstylists already pay for certification in addition to countless other fees for professional development. The trades tax is an unnecessary hit to the pockets of hairstylists and will kill jobs in our industry."

Regis Corp. operates both company owned and franchise locations across the province of Ontario. The seven Regis Corp. franchises joining the campaign to include:

Magicuts Supercuts BoRics Smart Style BSO HairCrafters HairMasters

The Liberal Government's new College of Trades is negatively impacting the hairdressing industry.  The new regulatory processes are being haphazardly imposed by the College of Trades on hairdressers. These new costs associated with the trades tax, will hurt an industry that employs thousands of Ontarians. To make matters worse, the Ontario government has yet to explain what hairdressers will get in return for this multi-million dollar tax grab.

"The College of Trades is only discouraging young people from choosing hairstyling and other trades as a career, which is something businesses hiring tradespeople and the Ontario economy cannot afford," said Karen Renkema, Chair of the Stop The Trades Tax Campaign. "The trades tax and the College of Trades are increasing barriers for hiring new tradespeople and increasing operating costs for businesses, leading to less workers being hired. Businesses are struggling because they are being strangled by red tape and burdened by the policies of the College of Trades."

About the Campaign:
The Stop The Trades Tax campaign was launched in 2011 to stop the Ontario government from imposing a new, multi-million dollar trades tax on tradespeople and employers. The campaign has grown to 32 organizations, whose members represent over 130,000 skilled tradespeople and over 8,000 businesses across Ontario. For more information please visit www.stopthetradestax.ca

SOURCE: Stop the Trades Tax

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

Karen Renkema, Stop The Trades Tax Campaign chair, [email protected], 416-768-4848.