Seven months after taking office, David Piccini, Ontario's Minister of Labor, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, announced the government's fifth workforce bill, this time with a focus on the construction sector.
In the interview, Piccini outlined a multifaceted focus, from new routes into skilled trades and new hygiene and harassment measures to attract more women, to plans to carry out a comprehensive review of casualties. They were asked to find a common theme among the bills they identified. I won't hesitate.
“I think Premier (Doug) Ford is working hard to focus on productivity and increasing the productivity of Ontario so that we can build the generational infrastructure that we rightfully earned more government. ” said the Democratic lawmaker. Originally from Northumberland and Peterborough South, he entered politics with a background as an international trade analyst. “Hospitals, traditional public transportation like the Ontario Line, schools.”
Supporting women in the industry
Piccini's May 6 announcement focused on measures to bring more women into the industry and support female workers elsewhere.
The government will require large construction sites to provide menstrual products and to ensure that washrooms are clean and sanitary. The Government has promised to consult experts to create a duty to act on behalf of employers if an investigation finds that workplace harassment has occurred. And new measures will protect women working from home from online harassment.
In a survey of female workers conducted by the Ontario Building Trades Authority, half of respondents said construction sites need better washroom facilities. Piccini said the bill is the first of its kind in Canada.
“I see this as a way to attract more women into the construction industry. You can't leave behind 50 percent of your workforce and make the kind of ambitious plans I just mentioned,” Piccini said. said.
The minister presented a long list of construction stakeholders who urged them to take steps to respond to women's needs.
The building industry, LIUNA, TARBA, the Insulation and Painters Association, OPCMIA (plasterers and masons), and the Ontario General Contractors Association, led by the lobbying efforts of President Giovanni Cautillo, all advocated for menstrual products and hygiene issues. He said there are.
Meanwhile, the construction industry and the Ontario Chamber of Commerce were among the groups pushing for harassment reform.
“This is the most 'stakeholder' and most comprehensive package of bills since we formed a government in 2018,” Piccini said.
“This is a low-hanging fruit,” said Cutillo, who was attending the Skills Ontario convention in Ontario that day. “These simple steps can go a long way in making the industry more welcoming to women.”
The government had made several announcements in the past few days highlighting provisions to facilitate entry into the skilled workforce.
Among them, the government is creating a new school stream called Intensive Apprenticeship Skills Training (FAST), which will allow students in Years 11 and 12 to earn additional co-operative education credits while graduating from high school. Through this, you will be able to participate in more apprenticeships. A new online job matching portal will be developed to connect apprentices, travelers and employers with job opportunities. And the government has announced that experienced workers will be eligible to register as apprentices even if they do not meet the necessary academic requirements.
“This is a key enabler for learning in grades 11 and 12,” Piccini said of the FAST initiative, comparing it to when courses are accepted when students take the International Baccalaureate program. Told. “You will gain experiential learning experience in the field. It will count toward your Level 1 hours.”
CPO leads investigation into injuries and fatalities
The legislation also includes a commitment to incorporate asbestos-related data into the department's future occupational exposure registry.
Mr Piccini announced that the government would also launch a consultation to expand the types of health and safety equipment it provides for construction projects, as well as an investigation into the causes of serious injuries and deaths in the construction sector.
Chief Prevention Officer Dr. Joel Moody will lead the injury and fatality review, and Piccini mentioned fatigue-related injuries and crashes among the many issues covered.
“We're looking at standardizing our safety approach,” Piccini said, pointing to Ontario's heavy workload, which includes building new EV and battery factories. “We want to be a truly competitive jurisdiction. We have more cranes in the air than any other jurisdiction in North America. But we want to do it in a safe way. You need to make sure.”
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