Toronto has rejected new provincial legislation that opens public-sector construction work to non-unionized workers, setting the stage for a legal showdown with those shut out of bidding on projects. Toronto City Council voted overwhelmingly to opt out of the legislation at a meeting on Wednesday, leaving it poised to become...
Desiree Smith is one of the few Black women working in construction, and she has advice for the City of Toronto if it wants to encourage diversity on publics works projects. “Our industry has a long way to go but I can tell you, based on my own personal story,...
Ontario’s unionized carpenters joined their colleagues from across the continent in days of action to raise awareness of the underground construction economy and tax fraud recently. The events also took advantage of the opportunity to score points on the benefits of municipal collective agreements at the same time. The campaign,...
TORONTO — The Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario has launched a campaign targeting tax fraud in the underground economy. “You pay your taxes, why should some construction contractors get to cheat?” asked an online post directed at the trade union’s members. “Their tax fraud costs everyone.” The campaign includes a...
DON PROCTER — Eight of the nine students in the pilot timber course being offered at the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades in Woodbridge, Ont. are journeypersons or fourth-year apprentices hand selected by their employer contractors to participate. One of those students is Amanda Howell who recently worked on...
Bill 66, the Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act, 2019, received royal assent April 3. The most significant change for the construction industry will be amendments to the Labour Relations Act, 1995, which will deem public bodies as “non-construction employers.” This change allows these public entities to open bidding on construction contracts...
Prime Minister Justin Trudeau chose a visit to the training centre of the College of Carpenters and Allied Trades in Woodbridge, Ont. three days after the release of Budget 2019 to highlight the federal government’s proposed new Canada Training Benefit (CTB). And in remarks to dozens of apprentice carpenters during...
The CDCO filed an application to the Ontario Superior Court of Justice March 4 alleging a breach of Municipal Conflict of Interest obligations by Waterloo Regional Councillor Michael Harris. In mid-January, Harris introduced a motion in council to have the Region of Waterloo support Bill 66, Restoring Ontario’s Competitiveness Act,...
The Carpenters’ Union and the Carpenters’ District Council of Ontario recently helped children and their families by donating $1 million to the Hospital for Sick Children in Toronto. “Over the years there has been a strong bond between The Hospital for Sick Children and the Carpenters’ Union,” states a release....
NextGen Builders to match youth with professional tradespeople who look like them A new mentorship program is being launched in Toronto on Wednesday with the aim of increasing the number of young black people working in the construction industry. NextGen Builders, a pilot project, will connect youth with mentors who...
