Why the Ontario College of Trades should stay in business: Jeff Koller, OCFIA (VIDEO)
Steve Payne
Videos Canadian ContractorThe Ontario Construction Finishing Industries Alliance (OCFIA) represents unionized painters and managers in that sector of our industry and Jeff Koller is a frequent spokesperson in favour of the Ontario College of Trades.
We at Canadian Contractor believe the Ontario College of Trades offers precious little value to residential contractors and homebuilders for the $120 annual fee, beyond being able to see your name shining out “In Good Standing” on the College’s website.
But Jeff Koller, Industry Compliance Offer (and a frequent spokesperson) for the Ontario Construction Finishing Industries Alliance (OCFIA), has a different opinion. He likes the Ontario College of Trades, because it will, he says, help – at least in part – to crack down on the underground economy in Ontario, which is costing governments vast amounts of money – and creating unfair under-the-table competition for legitimate tradespeople.
Steve Payne, editor of Canadian Contractor, interviewed Mr. Koller at our Don Mills offices.
The OCFIA is an “alliance” between a major painters’ union (the International Union of Painters and Allied Trades) and employers in that sector of the construction industry.
To get in touch with Mr. Koller, please email him at jeff.kollerocfia@bell.net
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So basically as an electrician I am paying for the other 21 trades to be policed??? And I don’t even get to vote on it?? why don’t electricians, who are already being policed, not be a compulsary trade?
One of the odd things about this college is that there is a wide variety of trades involved. Not just construction trades. You are correct, you will be paying for the policing of the hairdressing trade and others that may not be as easy or inexpensive to manage as electricians. It’s a crazy bureaucracy that will cost a fortune.
But doesn’t that mean the hairdressers are paying for you guys, too? Isn’t it a wash? Does everybody only look out for their own immediate interests? Typical small business mentality.
I think the mentality is that the person that gets the value is the one that pays for it. It is a typical small business mentality because it is all about transacting value and assigning value to what you do. Taking a corporate mentality as you suggest is good and should be done, but the trade off is that it should be voluntary. You should not be forced to act for the greater good.
NO!! it is not a small business mentality. I am not a small business I am a single electrician. I work for a large company in management not even doing electrical work. I am governed to do work by the ESA why do I have to pay another person to do the same thing??? so that hairdressers who have very differnet concerns and needs can be governed? that makes sense to you??
Small business thinking or not, your point is taken; that it makes no sense to be policed by two organizations. Too many police, not enough guys pulling wire.
in regards to marcus comment about being the only compulsary trade to be governed if he took his head out of the sand he would know that plumbers are also governed by building officials.so why do we need another governing body .
I do not agree with Jeff Koller. The Ontrario College of Trades is just another tax grab. The Trades and busineses that are playing by the rules and paying all their licencing fees and other operating costs, ( wsib, hst etc) are carrying the system that is encouraging more people to work for cash. What percentage of the economy works for cash and in what sector. Jeff Koller mentions that 12 billion dollars is generated in the underground economy in construction. Where and how is this figure determined. If the government can determine that this amount is being spent in the underground economy, can they not figure out way to stop it without adding more tax to the trades people and businesses that are compliant?
Those who do under table jobs will continue to do so and no “College” will change that. Those who don’t check for licencing now will not do so in the future, those who decide to choose cost over licencing will attempt to do so in the future. There is a huge trend for the government’s to off-load responsibility onto an independent organization, alleviating cost and in exchange for a cut in the profits, just as government owned properties are now managed by independent property management companies that are paid for by tax payers and profits shared with the governments. Makes me want to think up an organization to oversee an area of government concern not yet covered and have the law make it mandatory for everyone in that field to sign up with us and be guaranteed profits.
The cost for the “College” is at an all time low at this point to make it palatable to the public until they are entrenched into the system and there is no turning back. The larger the organization the higher the cost that will be passed down since the profits are guaranteed.