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Federal rep urges students to join College of Trades Jennifer McIntosh jennifer.mcintosh@metroland.com
EMC news - Kevin Flynn asked students at Algonquin to think about joining another college during his tour of the centre for construction. The parliamentary assistant to the minister of Training, Colleges and Universities toured the centre and talked to students about the Ontario College of Trades. Legislation was passed in 2009 and aims to let industry professionals govern themselves for things like apprenticeship ratios. Flynn said in 2003 in Ontario there were 60,000 apprenticeships in the field; today there are 120,000. “It’s still nowhere near enough to meet the future needs of employers,” Flynn said. The government is also making gains in attracting people to study trades. In 2003 there were 17,000 people studying the trades, last year there were 30,000. “Things are going well, but we need to do better. We have to change the conversation about post-secondary education and make trades a viable option,” he said. “My dad was a steamfitter and wanted me to go into the trades. Maybe I should have.” Flynn said touring the facility at the college gave him a lot of confidence about the
future of the trades. “I have toured facilities across the province and have never seen anything like this,” he said of the building. When the Ontario College of Trades is operational, it will be the first of its kind in North America and the largest professional college in Ontario. There have been some critics that call it a tax grab, but Flynn said it is something the government needs to do. “If it’s successful we could be a world leader,” Flynn said. One of the benefits would be letting industry professionals decide for themselves the appropriate journeymen-toapprentice ratios. “Trades people deserve as much consideration as any other regulated profession,” he said. “I am asking to not only join the Ontario College of Trades, but to be active members. It’s your future.”
Kevin Flynn, parliamentary assistant to the Minister for Training, Colleges and Universities, left, walks through the pedestrian overpass into the centre for construction excellence with Christopher Hahn, chair of construction trades and building systems at Algonquin College on Dec. 4. JENNIFER MCINTOSH/METROLAND
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