Left to right: Tony Elenis - ORHMA President, The Honourable John Milloy - Minister of Training, Colleges & Universities, TV Host Anna Olson - The Food Network, Chef-Professor Michael Olson - Niagara College Culinary Program

The ORHMA had the opportunity to meet with The Honourable John Milloy, Ontario’s Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities to discuss extending the eligibility of the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit (ATTC) to the Red Seal Cook, Chef and Baker trades in order to enhance the ability of employers in the hospitality industry to address labour shortages and improve service and product excellence. Currently, employers of apprentices in 125 trades are eligible to apply for the training tax credit – none of these trades are in the hospitality sector.

Accompanying the ORHMA to the meeting with Minister Milloy were renowned industry advocates Anna and Michael Olson (of the Food Network and Niagara College respectively, and co-owners of Olson Foods & Bakery) who presented a business operators’ perspective on the benefits of extending the ATTC to hospitality employers.

With the support of Ministry of Training officials, the ORHMA is currently working to determine the cost of expanding the eligibility of the tax credit in advance of meetings with the Ministry of Finance.

For more information on the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit please visit the Ministry of Revenue by clicking here or contact Michelle Saunders, ORHMA Government Relations Manager, at msaunders@orhma.com or 905-361-0268/1-800-668-8906 if you’d like to add your voice to ORHMA’s push for greater support to the hospitality industry for training and skills development.