TRAINING UPDATE

COMPULSORY CERTIFICATION OF TRADES

Legislation covering trade certification and apprenticeship training in Ontario recognizes two categories – compulsory and voluntary trades. In construction, compulsory trades include Electrician and Crane Operator, voluntary trades include Brick and Stone Mason, Drywaller, and Carpenter. Construction Craft Worker is a voluntary trade.

The last compulsory trade created in this province was Mobile Crane Operator in 1981. From time to time, other trades seek compulsory status. There is at present a review of compulsory certification being conducted. Some believe compulsory certification of all trades would improve safety, consumer protection, and apprenticeship registration and completion rates. Some unions representing workers in the voluntary trades – and their associated employers and trade associations – would like compulsory certification for their trades.

There is some opposition to sector-wide compulsory certification – LIUNA, trade associations in the heavy engineering and other sectors. There are some alternative proposals – certification of skill sets and compulsory entry-level safety training – which have considerable merit, and would probably work better than compulsory trade certification.

My opposition is simply that the proposal is impractical. I spent seven years in the apprenticeship branch (in the last century) and came to the conclusion then that, essentially, anyone who can do the work will do the work. Motor Vehicle Mechanics (a compulsory trade) have a monopoly, in a sense, because only they can issue safety certificates for automobiles. But that doesn’t prevent many without the trade .icence from repairing cars – for themselves, for friends and family, sometimes for pay. (The last might be illegal, but try to enforce that.)

In construction, much work that only electricians are certified to do is done by home renovators and others. Much of the work of electricians, and plumbers and refrigeration and air conditioning mechanics, can be done by others. And often is. There is work done by practitioners in voluntary trades for which others, as well as the apprentices and journeypersons in those specific trades, are trained.

Compulsory training is a valid concept. In fact, it’s required by law – the Occupational Health and Safety Act. We have compulsory certification for many specific tasks, including construction tasks. Compulsory certification of trades would serve little purpose.

Comments? Email jmclaren@506tc.org