Outcome on Bill 73 Disappoints PCA and CLAC

Liberals and NDP Vote to keep costly construction labour monopolies

TORONTO, Sept. 19, 2013 /CNW/ - Liberal and NDP Members of the Ontario Legislature put fairness and the public's interest aside today when they voted against Bill 73, The Fair and Open Tendering Act.  The Progressive Contractors Association of Canada (PCA) and the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC) have been working with the sponsoring MPP Michael Harris to stop construction labour monopolies in Ontario are disappointed in the outcome.

"Fair and open tendering makes sure that all Ontarians can participate on projects and provides certainty that we are getting maximum value for money on all infrastructure projects," said Sean Reid, Federal and Ontario Director for PCA.  "The Liberals and NDP did not listen to the broad coalition of municipalities, school boards, worker or employer groups supporting this Bill and stuck to protecting an ineffective status quo that will hurt Ontarians."

Under the current law, when a municipality is unionized by a traditional Building Trades construction craft union they become subject to a province wide collective agreement that restricts who they can hire to construct most infrastructure projects. This type of closed tendering situation is becoming more common in Ontario. Hamilton, Toronto, Sault Ste Marie, Kitchener and the Greater Essex County District School Board are already bound by these conditions. The Region of Waterloo is actively fighting a certification attempt by a construction craft union.

Bill 73 would have ensured that all contractors and workers would have the right to bid and work on publicly funded projects regardless of their affiliation with a particular union.  The Bill would have opened up municipalities and school boards that are already subject to construction labour monopolies while protecting workers by ensuring that the direct workers would still be represented by the same construction union with the public employer.

Over the summer Bill 73 earned widespread support from municipal associations, municipalities, construction industry groups and school board.  The main critics of the proposal were the traditional Building Trades Unions and the Carpenters Union who currently benefit from construction labour monopolies.

"Bill 73 would have provided needed clarity in Labour Relations Act to prevent against construction labour monopolies in Ontario municipalities and school boards," said Ian DeWaard, Regional Director for the CLAC.  "We are disappointed that MPPs from the Liberal and NDP parties voted against this proposal - especially because the consequences are the lack of fairness and increased cost to taxpayers."

The Fair and Open Tendering Act was introduced by Kitchener-Conestoga MPP Michael Harris in May of this year and received Second Reading debate today.

About PCA
The PCA is the voice of progressive unionized employers in Canada's construction industry. PCA member companies employ more than 25,000 skilled construction workers across Canada, represented primarily by the Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC). Their member companies are responsible for 40% of energy and natural resource construction projects in British Columbia and in Alberta and are leaders in infrastructure construction across Canada.

About CLAC
CLAC is an independent Canadian labour union representing over 55,000 workers in a wide range of sectors ― construction, health care, retail, service, transportation, manufacturing, and others. Based on principles that promote the values of respect, dignity, fairness, and integrity, CLAC's approach to labour relations stresses membership advocacy, cooperation, and the long term interests of the workplace community.  CLAC provides training support for its members to acquire, maintain and upgrade their skills. Courses are designed to keep members up to date with legislative requirements and codes, as well as provide them with applicable health and safety training.

SOURCE: Christian Labour Association of Canada

Sean Reid, PCA, Director Federal and Ontario 289-335-1181 ext. 1
Ian DeWaard, CLAC, Regional Director, 519-653-3002