Ottawa City Hall wants to avoid doing business with contractors who say they have apprenticeship programs but don’t. The City Council this week updated the responsible bidder ordinance to require proof that a contractor bidding on a city job has turned out at least one apprentice every year for five years. Mayor Dan Aussem feels that’s a low bar for any contractor actually training people. And the ordinance provides a better way to get the proof.
The City Council updated the ordinance this week during National Apprenticeship Week.