Another construction association has joined the public lobby against the Ontario College of Trades, which is preparing to soon bill hundreds of thousands of trades people for mandatory annual fees that will range from $50 to $100 for apprentices, to $100 to $200 for journeypersons, and up to $600 for “employers.”

Opponents have called the College “McGuinty’s Trades Tax.”

In a press release this morning, the National Capital Heavy Construction Association (NCHCA) joined the Ontario Construction Employers Coalition in their campaign to urge the McGuinty government to shut down the College.

“The way the College of Trades is going, we’re headed for stifling Quebec-style regulation,” said Marty White, President of the NCHCA, and Chief Estimator at Taggart Construction Limited, the largest infrastructure company of its kind in Eastern Ontario. “More regulation will drive down productivity, raise construction costs, and encourage the underground economy. You only have to read the headlines to see the Quebec model has disaster written all over it.”

The NCHCA quoted Quebec economist Pierre Fortin, who estimates that the Quebec model results in a 10.5 per cent increase in overall building costs, translating into an annual tab of $3.4 billion and the loss of 52,000 jobs.

The NCHCA is the 18th construction group to join the Coalition against the Ontario College of Trades and its proposed fees.

EVENT BULLETIN: Meet the Chair of the Ontario College of Trades

If you would like to meet the Chair of the Ontario College of Trades, Ron Johnson, you will be able to do so at the Canadian Contractor offices in Don Mills (Toronto), Oct. 18th, 6.30 pm to 8.30 pm.  Mr. Johnson will be making a presentation on how the College will be good for Ontario trades, and he will take questions from the audience. Event location: CANADIAN CONTRACTOR, Business Information Group, 80 Valleybrook Drive, North York, ON (Don Mills and York Mills area).  This event is sponsored by CARAHS (Canadian Association of Renovators and Home Services) and Canadian Contractor. The event is free, but pre-registration is required. To book your spot, please email spayne@canadiancontractor.ca.