NEWS BRIEFS come in the following year.” However, he indicated in a follow- up statement that the OCOT would have funds to hire additional inspec- tors as well as to develop training and curriculum programs. “Since the College only opened its doors in April 2013, just a few short years ago, we continue to develop and refine operational capacity,” he said. “Given our extensive mandate which includes, regulating and promoting all 156 skilled trades, modernizing the training standards and curriculum— some of which had not been updated in 20 years, ensuring compliance of the compulsory trades, and protecting the public interest, the College is build- ing a strong foundation to govern its members.” “Going forward, the College is ex- pected to move towards a more bal- anced budget.” “The Ontario College of Trades is committed to openness and trans- parency and that is why our budgets and financial statements are posted publicly on the website,” he said. Not surprisingly, the OCOT’s biggest expense is for salaries and benefits, which totaled $15,044,123 in 2015 (an increase from $14,095,023 in 2014). Sig- nificant sums were also spent on: Gen- eral and administration, $2,983,987; professional services, $602,872; trade governance and stakeholder meetings, $1,090,930; member communications, $1,690,745; and amortization of capital assets, $1,104,165. While there have been complaints about the OCOT’s enforcement prac- tices for the construction industry – part of which set off jurisdictional con- flicts between the Labourers’ Union and representatives of skilled certified trades – the 2015 enforcement data in- dicates that OCOT inspectors concen- trated their efforts in “motive power garages” – with 5,221 enforcement visits. However, there were 2,834 visits for ICI construction and 2,132 for resi- dential construction, representing a total of 4,966 visits, out of a total of 11,376. In 2016, regulatory and administra- tive oversight for enforcement of trade CONSTRUCTION ACROSS CANADA certification and scope of work rules was transferred to the Ministry of Labour from the Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities, but the OCOT said this would not change the day-to-day processes. “Out of the total field visits, around 4,200 individuals were found to be unauthorized workers and 36 Part III prosecutions were made,” the OCOT said. “Nearly 1,500 calls were received from the public about potential uncer- tified workers under the Ontario Col- lege of Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2009.” Greater Toronto Area: Province announces GO line extensions/station construction plans for east, west and northern GTA communities The provincial government has an- nounced plans to build new stations and extend the GO commuter rail serv- ice to communities east, west and north of Toronto, but the announce- ments – issued separately for each ex- tension – are vague on the costs and the exact construction implementation schedules. In the eastern Durham region, the government says GO Transit will ex- tend the Lakeshore East train line by 20 km. from Oshawa to Bowmanville, with service to start in 2024 at four new stations. The four stations will be built at Thornton Rd. and Ritson Rd. in Os- hawa, Courice Rd. in Courice and Mar- tin Rd. in Bowmanville. Transportation minister Steven Del Duca said in a June announcement that one of the biggest components of the expansion will be the construction of a new train bridge over Highway 20 – July - August 2016 — The Canadian Design and Construction Report 401 in Durham. Meanwhile, in a separate an- nouncement, politicians said there will be four new GO Train stations in Toronto’s west end, including St. Clair West and Liberty Village on the Kitch- ener line and Bloor St. and Lansdowne Ave., and Spadina Ave. and Front St. on the Barrie line. And in a separate announcement, the government announced it would extend GO service to Grimsby by 2021 and Niagara Falls by 2023, with up- grades as well to the St. Catharines and Niagara Falls Via Rail stations. Along with Ontario transportation minister Steven Del Duca and Ward 19 city councillor Mike Layton, Toronto mayor John Tory said the Liberty Vil- lage and St. Clair West GO stations will also run the new Smart Track electri- fied system once the transit plan is im- plemented. “With all day, two-way service, sta- tions here at Liberty Village and St. Clair West and Mount Dennis and Bloor (SmartTrack) will provide local service to the people of Toronto’s west end neighbourhoods,” the mayor said. In another announcement, the provincial government said it would build three new GO Train stations along the Barrie GO Transit line as part of Metrolinx’s GO Regional Express Rail (RER) program - one each in the areas of Kirby Rd. in Vaughan, Mulock in the Town of Newmarket and Innisfil in Simcoe County. GO Regional Express Rail is one way Ontario is providing faster, more frequent and more convenient transit service across the Greater Toronto and Hamilton Area, and includes electrify- ing core segments of the network by 2024. Along the Barrie line, this service will provide travelers with access to all day, two-way, 15-minute electrified service between Aurora and Union Station, including evenings and week- ends, weekday rush 30-minute service between Allandale Waterfront and Union Station and 60-minute service midday, the news release said. There will be 180 trains per day with 15- minute service.