The Constitution Act gives exclusive authority to each province in Canada to make laws in relation to education. In Ontario, the Minister of Education and the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities are responsible for the administration of laws relating to education and skills training.
Each year the ORHMA participates in discussions with government officials regarding the hospitality and tourism industry’s fiscal priorities and recommendations to the government for inclusion in the provincial government. This year the ORHMA, in consultation with members and in partnership with other business groups, has submitted a series of recommendations including expanding the eligibility criteria for the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit to include hospitality trades such as Chef and Baker.
In late September 2010 ORHMA met with senior staff in the Office of the Minister of Finance to discuss concerns with the Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit, which is not currently applicable for hospitality trades. ORHMA has previously met with two Ministers of Training, Colleges and Universities and two Ministers of Tourism and has received letters of endorsement for the extension of the ATTC to hospitality trades. ORHMA has also received written endorsements from a number of high profile chefs/restaurateurs as well as other hospitality organizations, and provided those written endorsements to the Finance Minister’s staff for review.