Commission on the Reform of Ontario's Public Services

Ontario’s Apprenticeship System
Ontario’s apprenticeship system provides programs for more than 150 trades and occupations
in four sectors: industrial/manufacturing, motive power, service and construction.
In 2010, Ontario established the College of Trades, a self-funding regulatory college that will
help modernize the province’s apprenticeship and skilled trades system. Once operational,
the College of Trades will be responsible for establishing the scope of practice and for setting
out policies and procedures for the trades. The College of Trades will also tackle a variety of
issues facing the apprenticeship system, including apprenticeship ratios and compulsory
certification.
Shift Responsibility for Apprenticeship Administration
Too many administrative functions remain centralized in the ministry when they could be
shifted to parties that are better positioned to carry out these tasks. For example, the College
of Trades could undertake administrative responsibilities for apprenticeships once it is up and
running. As a self-funding institution, the College can assume responsibilities that are now
under the auspices of the ministry; this will reduce costs to government. In addition, colleges
and union training centres that provide classroom training for apprentices could take on the
administrative responsibilities related to that function.
Recommendation 9-9: Shift the responsibility for all apprenticeship administration to other
actors in the sector. Functions related to the administration of apprenticeship classroom
training should be given to colleges and union training centres. All other administrative
responsibilities for apprenticeships should be transferred to the College of Trades over time.
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