A call for fairness for local contractors

Progressive Conservative MPP for Kitchener-Conestoga Michael Harris (pictured at left with Christian Labour Association of Canada Regional Director Ian DeWaard of Kitchener-Waterloo, at right) met with local political and labour figures in Sault Ste. Marie Thursday as part of a province-wide tour, promoting his Fair and Open Tendering Act, known as Bill 73.

The bill was introduced by Harris in the Ontario Legislature in May, and Harris says, if passed, it would enable municipalities and school boards to entertain tenders from a much greater number of contractors interested in bidding on construction projects.

As things currently stand under Ontario labour law, public sector entities such as municipalities and school boards may only accept bids from companies organized by specific unions. 

Bill 73 is scheduled for second reading at Queen's Park September 19.  

Speaking to reporters at the Delta Sault Ste. Marie Waterfront Hotel Thursday, Harris said: "Municipalities are not in the business of constructing things for profit and if you're a qualified contractor in Sault Ste. Marie, you should be able to bid on public infrastructure work funded by taxpayers."

"Since 2009 in my home riding, there has been $140 million of wastewater treatment work tendered out."

Harris said there were no less than 27 companies in his region with the necessary expertise which could have placed bids on that work, but that under current regulations, only two were able to bid.

"You don't need an economics degree to know that when you reduce 27 bidders down to two, prices go up and taxpayers pay more to build those projects, qualified contractors and their employees who live and work in that community are shut out from public infrastructure projects, and that's not fair."

Harris said he had a productive meeting Thursday morning with Sault Ste. Marie Mayor Debbie Amaroso and Chief Administrative Officer (CAO) Joe Fratesi, adding that Sault Ste. Marie MPP David Orazietti is aware of the issue.

Harris emphasized his Bill 73 is not anti-union, but rather, a call for fair opportunity for all qualified workers.

"The Christian Labour Association of Canada (CLAC), for example, are shut out of bidding for municipal infrastructure projects simply because the union card they have isn't the right one," Harris said, estimating "70 percent" of qualified carpenters, electricians, plumbers and other skilled trades workers are shut out of bidding simply because their unions are not on the province's list of preferred contractors for municipal infrastructure projects.

DeWaard said "our members, as well as those without a union, have been cut out of municipal construction work."

"This is a question of fairness."

DeWaard said "this should not be based on union membership, or lack thereof."

DeWaard said there have been previous attempts to change the Labour Relations Act, but, "for a variety of reasons they have failed."

"In this case, with Bill 73, Michael has it right."

"It's not anti-union.  We want to open up competition for qualified bidders."

Harris has been lobbying MPPs at Queen's Park to support Bill 73 in September.

"No one has said yes or no.  This is a non-partisan issue, and a practical solution that should be embraced by MPPs of all stripes."

Harris said representatives from the Mayors and Regional Chairs of Ontario (MARCO), Large Urban Mayors Caucus of Ontario (LUMCO) and Association of Municipalities Ontario (AMO) have each indicated their support for Bill 73 in letters sent to the Minister of Labour.

"I'm nervous they (the provincial government) have not said they will support it, but we'll see what happens."

Harris suggested the federal government, as eager as provincial and municipal governments are to get more bang for the buck in infrastructure spending, could apply pressure on Ontario to pass Bill 73.

The MPP has appeared before a federal committee, stating there has been some discussion that strings may have to be attached, allowing more open tendering to happen, before federal infrastructure funding is passed down to the province.

Harris said: "If the province doesn't want to move on this, that may need to happen, if that is the solution."