Voices
Ontario’s screwed up apprenticeship ratios: Is IBEW “a closed shop catering to sons or daughters of members?”
by canadiancontractorSean Gander details just how far his son went trying to break into the electrical field. He says the IBEW treated his son unfairly. Does this sound like a fair system to you?
Contracting and telling “white lies” to clients
by Steve MaxwellSteve Maxwell writes about why ANY white lies in the contracting business are going to come back to hurt you.
Ontario elects Doug Ford premier: Tell Jill Dunlop, MPP, to push for the abolition of the Ontario College of Trades!
by canadiancontractorWill new Ontario MPP Jill Dunlop continue the work of her MPP plumber father, Garfield, in calling for OCOT’s bureaucrats to be sent packing?
Memo to Ontario Premier-Elect Doug Ford: The Ontario College of Trades is “extortion and nothing less!”
by canadiancontractorFour years ago, the Ontario PC party was all about abolishing the Ontario College of Trades. Not much has been heard about that from Doug Ford.
Skilled trades shortage? What skilled trades shortage?
by canadiancontractorAlex went to school to get qualified as an electrical contractor but work has been hard to find…
Contractor reaction to the Ontario election result (2)
by canadiancontractorIt’s a good thing the Liberals are out, says Questo. “They created an apparatus of tax collection on the trades.”
Contractor reaction to the Ontario election results (1)
by canadiancontractorOne contractor’s view on Premier Doug Ford: “Not good for social stability.”
New generation of residential trades doesn’t want to do the grunt work, he argues
by canadiancontractorTim Wills finds it hard to located good young people with which to share his 17 years of residential construction knowledge
Electrical contractor can’t hire the staff he needs because of Ontario’s apprenticeship ratios
by canadiancontractor“We sometimes decide not to bid on jobs because we can’t get enough people to do the work,” says Dale McDonald, who blames the ratios system.
On the brink of an Ontario election, here’s one contractor’s take on construction unions (and it’s not pretty)
by canadiancontractor“The worst part is, they flat out lie to us. And offer to pay employees to testify against their employer.”
Here’s something we haven’t yet published: Praise for Ontario’s GreenOn program!
by canadiancontractor“I look forward to anything that elevates the committed tradesman from the not-so-committed tradesman.”
Net Zero is easier once we ditch wood frame construction, he argues
by canadiancontractor“Our (home building) methods and materials have taken us back as far as the 1900s – and nobody has noticed…”
Why weren’t there any representatives from the home building industry at Skills Canada’s Ontario competition?
by canadiancontractorLen Rance, a staunch proponent of apprenticeships and developing the next generation of contractors, wants to know
Legalization of marijuana will NOT lead to increased impairment on construction sites, Scott argues
by canadiancontractorAll that the legalization of marijuana will do is “keep current users on the right side of the law,” this commenter claims
Alberta apprenticeship ratios frustrate his job search
by canadiancontractor“I am finding nothing but a million apprenticeship listings,” Shane says
This contractor fought a four-year battle with Ontario’s Tarion new home warranty program.
by canadiancontractor“Tarion has a reputation for trampling on builders’ legal rights,” says Doug Abbott. In particular, they can come after you PERSONALLY, even if you have an incorporated company, he says.
Why is it so difficult for Ontario contractors to work in Quebec?
by canadiancontractorA Montreal contractor explains this mysterious state of affairs in down-to-earth terms
Jerry and his price book
by Steve PayneHis gross margin had slid all the way down to 15 per cent, just like that. Except in business, there IS no “just like that.”