STATEMENT TO THE LEGISLATURE
BY
THE HONOURABLE STEVE PETERS
MINISTER OF LABOUR
REGARDING:
ONTARIO QUEBEC CONSTRUCTION LABOUR MOBILITY
QUEEN'S PARK
JUNE 5, 2006
(CHECK AGAINST DELIVERY)
Speaker.
Last Friday, I had the honour and the pleasure of signing an agreement with my counterpart from Quebec, Labour Minister Laurent Lessard.
This agreement resolves years of disputes between our two provinces regarding construction labour mobility.
Disputes that previous governments simply could not fix.
Speaker, this agreement marks a new era of co-operation and fairness between Ontario and Quebec.
It paves the way for increased long-term prosperity for our two great provinces. And for our country.
This resolution is largely due to the hard work of our negotiators and ministry staff on both sides of our border.
I would like to take this opportunity to congratulate Chris Bredt, who represented Ontario, and Réal Mireault, who represented Quebec.
Their hard work and diligence in successfully brokering the at times contrary interests of their provinces, has led to this historic agreement.
They deserve our thanks and accolades.
And, Speaker, I would be remiss if I did not mention the hard work and perseverance of Jean-Marc Lalonde, the member from Glengarry-Prescott-Russell.
Mr. Lalonde has been a strong advocate for the resolution of this long-standing issue.
He has consulted with local contractors and workers to ensure that the views of Eastern Ontarians have been heard at the table throughout the negotiation process.
This agreement would also not have been possible without the direct input from our construction stakeholders in Eastern Ontario--contractors and workers.
Our government worked closely with them, listening to their concerns and addressing the issues they face.
We have achieved a fair deal for Ontario.
This agreement breaks down barriers for Ontario contractors and their employees who want to work in Quebec.
Our construction contractors and workers will have greater access to contracts and jobs in Quebec, including access to Quebec Crown corporations and Hydro Quebec construction contracts.
Previously, Ontario contractors generally had no access to Hydro Quebec. This is a major achievement for us.
In addition, Ontario construction workers who are qualified but not certified will now have the opportunity to qualify for trade activity cards from Ontario.
These cards will be recognized by Quebec, and these workers will be able accompany their employers to work anywhere in Quebec.
Previously, these workers could only accompany their employer in the Hull/Gatineau region of Quebec.
This too is a major achievement.
With this agreement, Ontario contractors will have province-wide access at a $100,000 threshold for construction contracts with Quebec's liquor board and lottery agency.
And, to forestall future disagreements, we have put in place an expedited process to resolve disputes concerning the qualifications of workers and contractors.
These are significant improvements for Ontario's construction contractors and workers.
For our part, Speaker, we have undertaken to repeal the Fairness is a Two-Way Street Act.
With the repeal, Quebec contractors will no longer be required to register with the Jobs Protection Office in Ottawa.
And, they will again be permitted to work on Ontario government and broader public sector contracts.
Both of our provinces have signed this agreement in good faith, and I have every expectation that both provinces will live up to the agreement's requirements.
The Jobs Protection Office will provide advice and assistance to Ontario contractors and workers who wish to work in Quebec.
It will be our liaison with Quebec on the issue of construction labour mobility, and will monitor the success of the agreement.
Among other functions, the office will now spearhead our government's efforts to combat the underground economy in construction in Eastern Ontario.
The underground economy threatens health and safety, undermines labour standards, and erodes construction quality.
Our government has taken a number of steps to combat the underground economy in construction through enhanced health and safety enforcement.
This includes allowing Ministry of Labour inspectors to issue on-the-spot tickets if written proof of trades qualifications under the Trades Qualification and Apprenticeship Act is not provided.
Further, I also recently announced a consultation on a proposal to extend mandatory workplace safety and insurance coverage to most people who work in construction.
Extending mandatory coverage to most construction workers would make it more difficult for individuals and employers to hide underground economy activities.
It would also bring a significant portion of workers in the construction sector under the protection of the workplace safety and insurance system.
Speaker, last Friday was an historic day for both Ontario and Quebec.
The agreement I signed with the Quebec Labour Minister signifies greater cooperation, greater opportunity, and greater access.
It is helping to build a prosperous long-term future for the construction industry in Ontario and in Quebec.
It is an integral element in the overall co-operation agreement that Premier McGuinty has signed with Premier Charest.
We are entering a new era of fairness, co-operation and economic prosperity between our two provinces.
This truly is a monumental achievement by our Premier.
And, it is a monumental achievement for the people of Ontario and Quebec.
Thank you, Speaker.
