The Ontario government is streamlining the skilled trades certification process by creating a new crown agency.
The agency, Skilled Trades Ontario, would replace the Ontario College of Trades. Its goal is to make the skilled trades and apprenticeship system more efficient and easier to navigate.
"Skilled trades workers are the engine of our economy," said Labour, Training and Skills Development Minister Monte McNaughton. "Under the current system, responsibilities are shared between OCOT and the Ministry of Labour, Training and Skills Development, causing confusion and added burden for people wanting to pursue a career in the skilled trades, which leads to employers struggling to find qualified skilled trades workers."
The government hopes the new system will attract more people to the industry. Prior to the pandemic, businesses estimated there were over 200,000 skilled trades jobs going unfilled in the province.
The Building Opportunities Skilled Trades Act still needs to be approved by the government before moving forward.