Overview

On May 29, 2019, Ontario passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2019. This new legislation establishes a new process to:

  • replace the Ontario College of Trades
  • transform apprenticeship training and skilled trade certification

Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, Ross Romano, appointed two training and skills advisors on August 29, 2019 to engage with industry stakeholders and provide advice to the Minister for two years.

The advisors will release a discussion paper and begin consulting with industry stakeholders and the public through fall 2019.

Get to know the advisors

Adam Melnick

Adam Melnick is the current director of government and community relations for the Heat and Frost Insulators and Allied Workers, Local 95 Ontario. Previously, he held the roles of elected business agent, director of apprenticeship and training, and instructor for this local for nearly a decade. He holds an Ontario certificate of qualification as a Heat and Frost Insulator and a diploma in recreation and leisure services from Sir Sandford Fleming College.

As a journeyperson and advocate for the skilled trades, Adam also spends time promoting and engaging educators, students and community partners around the opportunities that are available in the skilled trades. He also hosts and produces the Accidental Apprentices Podcast – Odd Jobs Explored.

Adam is a resident of Durham Region, where he serves on the board of directors for the Durham Workforce Authority and on the Program Advisory Committee for Durham College’s construction management degree program. He also serves on the boards of directors for the Toronto Community Benefits Network and Buildforce Canada.

Andrew Pariser

Andrew Pariser is the vice-president of Residential Construction Council of Ontario (RESCON) since 2014, specializing in training and apprenticeship, health and safety, and labour relations. Andrew is the chair of both the RESCON health and safety committee and training and apprenticeship committee and sits on three program advisory committees (PACs) at Durham, Humber, and George Brown Colleges.

Previously, he was appointed to the Ministry of Advanced Education and Skills Development (MAESD) Planning and Partnership Table as well the Highly Skilled Workforce Committee which focused on the future of work in Ontario.

Andrew’s passion for all issues related to apprenticeship and skilled trades began during his eight years with the Ontario Ministry of Labour in the mediator services division, where he interacted with all sectors of Ontario economy including industrial, services, automotive, and construction. This passion continued with his appointment to the International Foundation of Employee Benefits Plan (IFEBP) Apprentice, Training and Education Board (2017-2018) and IFEBP Canadian Board (2018-2021).

Andrew graduated from Queen’s University with a bachelor of arts (honours) in economics and geography in 2006, and again in 2007, with a master’s in industrial relations.

Consultation

The training and skills advisors will engage with industry stakeholders and the public on developing:

  • a framework for portable skill sets and recommendations for an initial tranche of portable skill sets based on that framework
  • a risk-of-harm framework – advice on how to identify risk-based activities that should be restricted, and recommendations on which activities should be restricted
  • an implementation plan for portable skill sets and restricted activities

Contact us

Email the training and skills advisors at forthetrades@ontario.ca to ask questions or provide feedback.

Mandate

The training and skills advisors were established to provide advice to the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities (“the Minister”) on matters relating to the skilled trades and apprenticeship system and the implementation of the skilled trades and apprenticeship modernization model, including the development of:

  • a framework to support the Minister’s role to prescribe portable skill sets and recommendations for an initial tranche of portable skill sets.
  • a risk of harm framework to support the Minister’s decisions to prescribe restricted activities, and recommendations on which activities should be restricted.
  • an implementation plan for portable skill sets and restricted activities based on feedback received from stakeholder engagements.

Deliverables

In fulfilling their mandate, the TSAs will:

  • Develop a detailed work plan, including a consultation and engagement plan, in consultation with identified ministry staff.
    • The work plan will articulate how the TSAs propose to deliver on their mandate, as well as the engagement and consultation approach.
    • The consultation and engagement plan must include engagement with a broad range of stakeholders from all four trades sectors.
    • The ministry will review the plans to ensure alignment with the mandate, including adequate engagement with all four sectors.
  • Provide the Minister with analysis, advice and recommendations on:
    • Portable skill sets
      • Engage with a diversity of stakeholders regarding a framework to assist the Minister with decisions on prescribing skill sets in regulation. The framework will include recommendations regarding the mechanism which could be used for the development of portable skill sets.
      • Engage with a diversity of stakeholders regarding a mechanism for the development of apprenticeship programs for portable skill sets.
      • Develop an implementation plan for an initial tranche of portable skill sets, which is reflective of the feedback received from all sectors.
      • Submit the portable skill sets recommendations to an identified senior ministry staff and an implementation plan for the initial tranche of portable skill sets.
    • Restricted activities
      • Socialize the skilled trades sector on the concept of restricted activities.
      • Engage with a diversity of stakeholders regarding a risk of harm framework and to assist identification of potential restricted activities that the Minister may prescribe in regulation.
      • Based on feedback received, provide the Minister with advice on how to identify restricted activities, including developing the risk of harm framework that can be used to assess which activities should be restricted.
      • Identify potential restricted activities that the Minister may prescribe in regulation.
    • Implementation support
      • Support implementation of the new model through to the end of their appointment.
    • Any other matters relating to the skilled trades, apprenticeship, or the implementation of the skilled trades and apprenticeship modernization model, as directed by the Minister.