Voices
More reaction to Steve Maxwell’s ‘Inner Life of a Contractor’
by canadiancontractorKevin Marois asks: What is to stop any of us adopting the business principle that we can do whatever we can get away with?
Q. What do you call a man who barely passed med school and survived his internship by a whisker?
by canadiancontractorA. You call him “Doctor!”
“Setting the record straight” on the Ontario College of Trades
by canadiancontractorAn eloquent defence of all things OCOT by “Trades Person”
Electrician of 43 years’ service applauds the OCOT “wind down” announcement
by canadiancontractor“I watched my license fee go from $60 every 3 years to $138.50 annually”
Shutting down the Ontario College of Trades means “blue collar workers” will “never (be) professional”
by canadiancontractorIn this post, reader Garrett Reid says shutting down the Ontario College of Trades will also mean his taxes go up
Praise for OCOT “wind down” and apprenticeship ratios moving to 1:1 in Ontario
by canadiancontractor“I would like to see the ESA evaluated as well,” says Al
Got your trades education at school? Breaking into a union is the hard part
by canadiancontractorNetwork, network, network, says Guy, even if you think that unions like the IBEW are “closed shops”
What do you do if client demands to see receipts for your purchased items?
by canadiancontractorThat’s fine if you are on a T&M basis. But not if you quoted a fixed price. Walk away, one contractor advises.
Interprovincial trades exam in Ontario: 70 per cent minimum pass needs to be lowered
by canadiancontractorEmbrun, ON entrepreneur Marcel Blanchard weighs in on the obstacles to a trades career that Ontario’s policies have wrought
HVAC contractor told he has to provide his receipts for all the parts he has used in the past, to get paid on his current job
by canadiancontractorRichard Matthew says he is being threatened with non-payment unless he can provide all of his historic parts receipts. Comments?
Praise for the first instalment of Steve Maxwell’s “Inner Life of a Contractor”
by canadiancontractorAnthony Goosen believes that Steve’s “Are You Just Molecules or More?” is an important read
This is a stressful business. Are you feeling run down or worse? Read this.
by canadiancontractorPro painter Simon Kuhl, Victoria, BC, recommends Reasons to Stay Alive by Matt Haig
Public misconceptions about why contractors need deposits
by canadiancontractor“We are not your (expletive) bank!” writes contractor Karl Bach
He would like to see an inspection of OCOT’s inspectors
by canadiancontractorAnother HVAC contractor alleges unprofessional conduct by an OCOT enforcement officer
Why was owner of firm slammed with half a million dollar fine, while actual electrician has “zero consequences”?
by canadiancontractor“We live in a province where doctors and nurses kill people every single day. Yet none of them suffer personal consequences like this,” Rob says
Painter agreed a price with “homeowner,” who now tells him another contractor will pay him
by canadiancontractorThe painter has almost finished his work, but wants to be paid by the individual who agreed the deal. If he’s paid as a sub by another contractor, he worries about his WSIB exemption.
Homebuilding client: Our contractor unfairly liened us!
by canadiancontractorThis client believes she has been ripped off, yet builders only post liens when they themselves are owed money. How can this problem be solved without both sides paying enormous legal fees?
Dirt floor basement, moisture issues, cracking concrete blocks. What to do?
by canadiancontractorOwner seeks contractor advice on insulating 1930s era homestead in Alberta