Carpenter license, money grab or what?

[jaotguy]

OK ...lets do the right thing here ....

nation wide "standardized test" for all inspectors / trades ...politicians , etc ..... with a good dose of common sense thrown in to the test ( add and subtract, mult and divide in their head ... make change for a sale .... calculate distance and speed .... plus the special items necessary for them to perform their "trade" correctly) pass the "test" or you can't apply ( or be considered ) for the position.

no more nepotism or as Archie Bunker said " theory of relatively" the boss's nephew got the job ....

any board appointees (for 1 year terms and then MUST be replaced) must be certified by a panel of peer trades people (and chosen from the peer people ) before the can "sit" in judgement and make decisions for the trades ..... REAL LIFE EXPERIENCE and wisdom.....

all affected trades must be able to vote on whether they want regulation or not and to what degree ....

and finally a registered "politician school" .... a full time, one year diploma ,.... no diploma, and you can't even run ....
as for the existing cronies, they have till the end of their term to take night school and write the exams or they are out on their ear.

and a limit of 8 years total ( combined ) in any office and they are barred from any further terms in any other office.

life time politicians will be gone, those in power will have to do the will of the people. If you can't get what you want done in 8 years , then you shouldn't be in politics. The old guard will disappear quickly and be replaced with younger faces .... ( not always a bad thing )
new and fresh ideas will be tried .... good ideas will be kept , the bad stuff will fall to the wayside ....
corruption will be weeded out quickly and fully exposed ... ( who would want to carry the baggage from previous politicians? )

 

[/pine]

IMO...anyone that does work for a homeowner is actually a contractor and therefore if said contractor or anyone employed by said contractor in way or manner is on your property...they MUST be insured...otherwise YOU are liable...

IMO implementing licenses for tradesmen etc. is really protecting the consumer...i.e., no insurance = no license, no license = no advertising etc...

IMO any contractor should show proof that any/all of his charges are covered by workman's comp. ins....

 

[rogerius]

IMO implementing licenses for tradesmen etc. is really protecting the consumer....

Not sure how a licenses will protect the consumer but I hope nobody hires a tradesman based on piece of paper (license). For myself I'm looking at recommendations, references and previously job done. And yes, the insurance in today society is a must even I don't agree with that.

 

[two_bit_score]

Not sure how a licenses will protect the consumer but I hope nobody hires a tradesman based on piece of paper (license). For myself I'm looking at recommendations, references and previously job done. And yes, the insurance in today society is a must even I don't agree with that.

Thats taking responsibility for the decisions you make. And you are absolutely right, a piece of paper does not guarantee a qualified tradesman.

 

[jaotguy]

IMO...anyone that does work for a homeowner is actually a contractor and therefore if said contractor or anyone employed by said contractor in way or manner is on your property...they MUST be insured...otherwise YOU are liable...


IMO any contractor should show proof that any/all of his charges are covered by workman's comp. ins....

It is already law here .... if you have any employees ( even part time or subs ), you have to be registered and pay " the fees "

the only way to get around it is to be the only worker in your company, and work only for the home owner.

 

[/pine]

Not sure how a licenses will protect the consumer but I hope nobody hires a tradesman based on piece of paper (license). For myself I'm looking at recommendations, references and previously job done. And yes, the insurance in today society is a must even I don't agree with that.

I explained the rationale in the same sentence you cited...what is it you don't understand about ".i.e., no insurance = no license, no license = no advertising etc..."?

As for insurance...anyone that allows another person to work on their property and said person is not covered by insurance is an ignorant fool...and can possibly lose everything they have of value...AND FWIW...just because a general contractor tells you all his employees and all his sub-contractor employees are covered DOES NOT MAKE IT SO...it is the homeowners responsibility to be certain that anyone working on their property is covered...

 

[yelbike]

I explained the rationale in the same sentence you cited...what is it you don't understand about ".i.e., no insurance = no license, no license = no advertising etc..."?

As for insurance...anyone that allows another person to work on their property and said person is not covered by insurance is an ignorant fool...and can possibly lose everything they have of value...AND FWIW...just because a general contractor tells you all his employees and all his sub-contractor employees are covered DOES NOT MAKE IT SO...it is the homeowners responsibility to be certain that anyone working on their property is covered...

I have insurance business and homeowners.

If you hired someone to do work in your home or business and he does NOT have insurance, wouldn't your homeowner's or business policy cover the damages? If he sues you, you should be cover....right?

I realise the laws may be different in both countries.

Its never happened to me, but I think if a person got hurt legitimately on my property, and he can collect on my insurance to cover legitimate losses, so be it. That's why I pay the premiums.
If its a scam than that's a totally different ball game.

 

[ghenges]

As George Washington discharged the troops that fought, suffered and bled to win the Revolutionary War, the Massachusetts state and county governments were virtually instantly put in place.

Before the troops could make their way back home the county governments were already selling the troop's farm and homes for unpaid taxes.

The abuse of government has gotten nothing but worse since, it's amazing how many people agree we need more and more regulation.

I am reminded of being at the Fairfax County building inspection dept. in the early eighties as my union carpenter friend was endeavoring to resolve problems with his home drawn house plans.
Making little headway with the bureaucrat, frustrated my friend quipped:
"if God brought his plans for the design of man to Fairfax County you people would say; that's a critical violation -- look, you put his drippy nose right over the mouth he eats with.

 

[tcreeley]

When I moved to Maine in the early 80's, I left behind a state (Mass.) where if the materials were going to cost you more than $250, you needed to hire a contractor. The town I moved to had a plumbing inspector for sewage systems, but that was it. Building permits were not required- for houses, barns, or garages and shed. Today you need to get a building permit, but they accept hand drawn plans. They don't much care how you build it. As soon as a roof is on, it shows up on your taxes. I like the freedom it gives me. I think it is the insurance companies and banks that are pushing for the regs in my area. They want standardized mortgages and properties to go with them. Unless it is for public use, a building should not be regulated. If the roof falls in- so what, shouldn't have skimped. As for future owners- buyer beware takes care of that.

 

[jaotguy]

I think we are over thinking things here ... the new "law" would require people installing kitchen cabinets in Ontario to be regulated... putting down snap and click flooring ... installing a door knob .....putting an arborite counter top.... installing a pre hung door ..... putting up a small shelf.

they would all be classified as carpenters.