RUNCIMAN GETS GOVERNMENT TO REVIEW APPRENTICESHIP RATIOS
(Toronto) – In the Legislature today Leeds-Grenville MPP Bob Runciman got assurances from Premier Dalton McGuinty that the government will review their policy that limits opportunities for young Ontarians to become electrical apprentices.
Runciman questioned the Premier on why new money would be placed into apprenticeship programs under yesterday’s Ontario budget if the current hiring ratio 3 tradespeople to 1 apprentice is keeping thousands of apprentices from actually getting a job.
“The present policy severely limits the ability of smaller firms, primarily non-union, to hire the number of apprentices they are capable of training.” said Runciman. “It’s like requiring 3 teachers for 1 student”.
Eight of the twelve provinces and territories support a one-to-one ratio for electrical journeyman to apprentice with no variance while Ontario has a sliding scale that is as high as three-to-one. Other than Prince Edward Island, Ontario has the most stringent electrical trade ratios. In every province west of Ontario the ratio is 1 to 1.
The Premier agreed that Runciman’s suggestion was reasonable and pledged to look into the matter
President of the Rideau St. Lawrence chapter of the Ontario Electrical league Barry Moss applauded Runciman for pressing the issue with the government. “We are pleased that the government has agreed to review this unreasonable government regulation.” Moss, who is also President of Four-O-One Electric Ltd. in Brockville, met with Runciman last spring with a number of Leeds-Grenville contractors to discuss the issue. “The lack of a one-to one ratio has deterred us from hiring young Ontarians and we hope the government will review this matter quickly and bring us in line with other provinces.” added Moss.
Mr. Robert W. Runciman: My question is for the premier. Premier, in your budget you speak to the need to expand apprenticeships and launch workers into new, well-paying careers. Yet yesterday, when the member for Simcoe–Grey, Mr. Wilson, asked you about the ratio of tradesmen to apprentices currently in place in Ontario—three tradesmen to one apprentice or essentially three teachers for every student—you refused to answer. This ratio is turning away thousands of apprentices in the electrical, plumbing, sheet metal and carpentry trades.
Will the Premier make an effort to answer the question today? Will he change this discriminatory ratio?
Hon. Dalton McGuinty: First of all, let me say that I’m pleased to receive the question and, to be very specific, to look into the matter. My understanding is that these ratios are set by special advisory committees. We will certainly take a very close look at it because our intention is to fill in the skills gap. As you know, we have Ontarians who are losing their jobs today through factors beyond their control. We have invested in a dramatic way in 20,000 workers to ensure they have access for the first time to long-term training, and beyond that, to take our annual influx of apprentices from 26,000 to 32,500.
Obviously what the leader of the official opposition is talking about would, if it were workable, help us resolve this skills gap.
Mr. Robert W. Runciman: I think it’s easily workable and we would urge the Premier to move on it. He likes to talk about the money his government is spending on apprenticeship training and the increase in the number of apprentices, but the reality is there is no point in pouring money into apprenticeship programs if the current hiring ratio is keeping thousands of apprentices from actually getting a job in a trade.
In keeping with all of the other poor economic indicators that we keep hearing about, other than Prince Edward Island, Ontario has the most stringent electrical trade ratios in Ontario. Ontario spends thousands of dollars training these apprentices and they turn around and move to other provinces like Alberta, where the ratio is 1 to 1. In every province west of Ontario the ratio is 1 to 1.
It’s a simple solution that doesn’t require any new tax dollars. What’s behind your reluctance, Premier? Does it have anything to do with your debts to certain unions?
Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I have said that we will take a look at this. There may very well be something there that we can and should do in order to ensure that we are meeting the demand for skills. The Canadian Federation of Independent Business tells us that in 2007 there were 100,000 jobs that were available for at least a period of four months which weren’t being taken, predominantly because people who were available to take those jobs didn’t have the necessary skill sets. That’s why we have about 100,000 apprentices—110,000 apprentices, in fact—who are being trained today. When we first formed the government, there were 19,000 new apprentices being brought online every year. We want to take it up to 32,500 now.
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Again, I say to the leader of the official opposition: He’s made a suggestion. I think it’s reasonable, and we will take a look at it
Mr. Robert W. Runciman: We’ll look forward to an early announcement.
A bit of a different tack: Yesterday’s budget said that the goal of the $1.5-billion skills to jobs action plan was to give unemployed workers the skills to get a job in industries that were growing and experiencing labour shortages. There is an article in today’s Globe that says your government officials have indicated—I’m quoting from the paper—that “the strategy will not require individuals to study in specific high-demand areas.” Premier, what exactly, then, is the money being spent on? If they’re not being trained in an area where there is a labour shortage in Ontario, aren’t we just spending the money on training unemployed people who will then pack up and get a job in Alberta?
Hon. Dalton McGuinty: I have a great deal more faith in the wisdom of individual Ontarians to pursue the kinds of training that is going to lead to good jobs for them and their families. What the leader of the official opposition is proposing, to take it to it logical conclusion, is that we put in place some kind of a regulatory process that determines which industries are specifically going to grow and would hold employment opportunities for some and which we should not be funding.
I can tell you, if you are 42 years of age and you’ve lost your job in forestry or lost your job in manufacturing, you’ve got grocery bills that you’ve got to pay, you’ve got rent or you’ve got mortgage payments that you’ve got to make, when it comes to considering what kind of a job training opportunity you’re going to pursue, you’re going to be very, very sober-minded about making that kind of decision. I place my confidence in the ability of Ontarians to make that kind of a call. It’s not a call for our government to make.
