Representatives of the Ontario government were at Humber Polytechnic's Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology late last year to introduce a series of proposed measures to protect the health and well-being of workers while bringing more people into the skilled trades.
Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development David Piccini was joined by Associate Minister of Women's Social and Economic Opportunity Charmaine Williams, and Parliamentary Assistant to the Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development Patrice Barnes along with Humber President and CEO Ann Marie Vaughan.
The Working for Workers Six Act, 2024 will crack down on bad actor employers with mandatory minimum fines of $500,000 for corporations convicted of repeated offences within a two-year period under the Occupational Health and Safety Act. The government is also proposing to expand existing roadside safety laws under the Highway Traffic Act to require motorists to slow down and move over for roadworkers, such as highway maintenance workers.
It also has measures to address parental leave for parents through adoption and surrogacy, expanded job-protection for people with long-term illnesses, requirements for properly fitting PPE for women in all sectors to attract more women into the trades, and improved cancer coverage for firefighters, investigators and volunteers.
"As our government continues to bring back better jobs and bigger pay cheques to Ontario, we are keeping workers healthy and safe no matter where they work: On a highway, a job site, or the shop floor," said Minister Piccini. "Our government's proposed sixth Working for Workers bill will introduce game-changing measures to grow Ontario's workforce by bringing more women into the trades, cracking down on bad actors who exploit newcomers and harm workers and introducing nation-leading cancer protections for firefighters."
Vaughan thanked Piccini and his government for the more than $3 million they've contributed towards the expansion of the Centre for Skilled Trades and Technology and applauded their efforts to expand skilled trade training both at Humber and across the province.
"Skilled trades are the backbone of our society - from building affordable homes, to supporting our schools, hospitals, public transit, roads, bridges and powering our local economies," said Vaughan. "At Humber, we recognize the important role of higher education in building a strong and skilled labour market."
While productivity is a core driver of economic growth, it has stalled in Canada. Vaughan said Canada's productivity, which is typically measured by GDP per capita, ranked 18 out of all OECD countries.
"Simply put, Canadians are seeing their standard of living fall in comparison to other developed economies," said Vaughan. "To address this challenge, we need to think innovatively about how to grow and diversify the future workforce."
Natasha Ferguson, founder of A Woman's Work, was supportive of the government's proposed changes and said they will prove to be helpful in her career.
"For years, women like me have had to adapt to tools, equipment and policies that weren't designed with us in mind," said Ferguson. "Ontario's initiative to ensure properly fitting PPE and better workplace conditions sends a strong message: we see you, we value you, and we're building a future where women in the trades can excel safely and confidently. When we make the trades more inclusive through properly fitting PPE, clean facilities and parental leave we're not just supporting women, we're transforming the entire industry."
More information can be found by visiting the Ministry of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development website.
