[ad_1]
Tomi Hulkkonen, local coordinator of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 494 in Windsor, Ont., died on Jan. 5 from injuries sustained in vehicle accident, according to a report from the Ontario Construction Secretatiat. He had recently taken a position on the board of the OCS and had been an active advocate for the industry. Federal MP for Windsor-Tecumseh, Andrew Dowie, Essex MP, Chris Lewis, and federal PC leader, Pierre Poilievre, posted tributes to Hulkkonen on Facebook. Lewis credited Hulkkonen with inspiring his private members bill that would have given a federal tax deduction for travel expenses to tradespeople (which did not pass). Hulkkonen was 52.
The OCS released this message: “Although Tomi had only recently joined our board, he made an immediate and lasting impression through his thoughtfulness, humility and strong commitment to serving others. He was widely respected across the unionized construction community and dedicated his career to advocating for working people.”