Alec Caldwell
Opinion: New CEO at Ontario College of Trades has a chance to make it useful to our industry
Canadian Contractor Commercial Coverage Insurance Market VehicleThe appointment of David Tsubouchi to the helm of OCOT might give the controversial new organization a chance to get its act together, Alec Caldwell argues.
In Ontario, David Tsubouchi is the new CEO of the Ontario College of Trades (OCOT), replacing predecessor Bob Guthrie. Guthrie’s reign was short lived. Some have suggested he may have become a shipwreck after taking the initial heat.
The college has been incredibly unpopular in the industry. But could a new captain give it some life?
I recently heard Tsubouchi address listeners of the Toronto radio station 640AM and I liked what he had to say. Tsubouchi is no pushover. Under his leadership as Minister of Consumer and Commercial relations, the self-managed organizations Travel Industry Council of Ontario (TICO), Real Estate Council of Ontario (RECO) and Ontario Motor Vehicle Industry Council (OMVIC) were created, providing industry-driven organizations that brought more accountability to the public and reduced the size of government.
There is more to Tsubouchi than meets the eye. He’s also served on many boards, including Integrity Commissioner for the Town of Richmond Hill Ontario.
I don’t think the college is going away any time soon. For better or for worse, life is about change. Nobody’s happy about the college now, but some good may come out of it.
At present, for example, the college has put out tender to private insurance companies to make benefits available up to 500,000-plus members. With membership, I’m assuming, will come the option of big group benefits at reasonable pricing, even for sole proprietors. Normally small businesses can only get limited coverage in the market place at the cost of an arm. Maybe this is about to change due to becoming a member of the College? Time will tell.
Tsubouchi will hopefully get more boots on the ground to visit job sites, including home renovations and individual home builders. The Ministry of Labour (MoL) does now, as most of us already know, but even they need more inspectors.
I know many readers will be dumbfounded at my comment above, but it’s time to make things a level playing field for everyone.
Without the required courses, many put workers and sub-trades in harms way. Last week I took one step onto the main floor of new home construction and immediately stopped — two feet from me was a large hole in the floor. Anyone falling through it would come to a sudden halt on a basement concrete floor below. The builder was just beyond the hole and after drawing his attention to it, he immediately had a worker nail a board over it. He also signed for our next local Fall Awareness Course.
CARAHS is a non profit association for renovators and home services providers. We offer education, information and benefits.
CARAHS offers over 70 Health and Safety e-courses online here.
Toll free 1-866-366-2930 www.carahs.org
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How’s that for ethics from the Ontario College of Trades? My CARAHS members are hopping mad!
Read this artice and more on College of Trades at following link
https://www.canadiancontractor.ca/uncategorized/hows-that-for-ethics-from-the-ontario-college-of-trades-my-carahs-members-are-hopping-mad
In reply 31 Oct ,2013 to this above article Jason Powless posts on article at the Canadian contractor and says:
We must take courage and stand up for what is right. The OCOT is extortion and
robbery. These are self enhancing opportunists who will parasite from the labours
of the people of Ontario. The right to work in your trade denied and made illegal is
a crime. We are a dictatorship. The MPP”S are out to lunch. They are not trades
people and will not listen. Should there not be a class action lawsuit against the
government and the unjust Ontario College of Trades reqarding the human right to
employment?
I would like to hope, that your assertion that the College of Trades made be made more palatable due to David Tsubouchi.
I would like to respectfully point out that the college has moved ahead with it’s own agenda despite opposition from the beginning.
The introduction of a new “police force” on the worksite is both unwanted and unwelcome.
The possibility of the college offering a new “benefits” package seems an afront in light of the now mandatory coverage for I/O’s and executive officers.
Lastly I assume you are aware that neither the College of Trades nor the Ministry of Labour offers training, nor do they plan to offer it. The fact that you had the opportunity to see an unsafe workplace first hand, only serves to prove that despite the wealth of knowledge put forth, by the OHBA, OGCA, IHSA,private organiations such as yourself and others, there are still builders ignoring or blissfully unaware of the safe way to work.
Will another police force that merely serves to charge for the right to work change that?
Thank you,
Unfortunately voluntary benefit plans don’t tend to translate into much benefit.
Mandatory union type plans work because the younger single member that might use the dental coverage for a $100 bucks a year effectively subsidizes the member with a wife and 3 kids that requires much more.
Given the choice that younger worker is going to opt out which is essentially what this plan is – the kind of poor value insurance stuff your credit card company tries to peddle.
Thanks for your comments Bruce and Joe,
Both your comments hold water and I think the new leadership at the College will change things. Please read the new report the Chamber of Commerce on the College and give me your feed back here.
READ it AT: http://www.carahs.org/?p=2747
Alex clearly does not understand that the OCOT is not providing ANY benefit to the tradespeople. He also does not understand that no other regulatory operates like the OCOT, because it is wrong and possibly illegal. Why the legislation changes such as business memebership? Or exemption from big ingustry tradespeople? The OCOT can and will go away…because it is simply the right thing to do. Maybe Alex did not put over 12000 hours into an apprenticeship, sit in school 2-4 months a year for years or spend thousands on tools like mechanics. Maybe then he would see the bigger picture. I DID THESE THINGS SO I WOULD NOT BE A PART OF AN UNDERGROUND ECONOMY! WHY THE F@#K should I pay for its enforcement? Oh, and the public registry for public safety? Where’s the list of illegal shops and non-never-been-licensed people? Not there. Why? This list is just to shame those who chose to be legal and certified. OCOT. ..keep your hands off my license…I have an agreement with the government of Ontario to practice my trade. ..NOT a “private notfor profit ” business.
The Orchestrated Corruption Over Trades, have no apparent business on the home renovations, according to their own by laws, don’t be fooled by it.
Apparently they are trying to save the boat around the entrance of Bermuda triangle. Last year some of them went into Windsor College campus preach their demise in none trades class, so far this year haven’t happen. I wonder how many College were visited in the same manner to cover their insane pay checks.
Regarding to Insurances matters: Insurance companies are very wise in matters of constitutional laws to avoid lawsuits, it seems wise for them not to participate in a apparent illegal collecting agencies. Salesman of elusions and snake oil, we have to many in this Province already.
This shame full Liberal government should quit, asap, ask for forgiveness for the hard times they brought into the people of Ontario. Instead they are waiting for the budget, trying to gain sympathy. what budget, how in hell who will believe these crooks any longer. They are living under the elusion if budget may not pass, they may win the electoral again, if that happen then all of us will enter pure hell. They want to waste more money to create an magic budget, from debt.
We the people, apparently need MPPs at the government to understand the Canadian laws much better or take reasonable consulting time to approve any fair bill.
I believe all of us compulsory trades people and all the others trades to, to get in touch with the company Power serve inc. Windsor location and Kitchener Ontario. Ask them the possibility or if they want to participate in a class action law suite against the OCOT and their cronies, and those pass the bill on 2009.
This company is already in court action against the OCOT.
Also should be welcome any law firm out there wish to start this action.
Please announce in this blog or at the journals and media the desire to help the trades people. It could lead into a very interesting case in our Ontario history.
To all trades out there lets get this ball rolling.