Kelowna, BC – Today, the Hon. Randy Boissonnault, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages of Canada joined leaders from Canada’s Building Trades Unions, Provincial Building Trades Councils, and workforce development partners SkillPlan, Future Skills Centre, Magnet, and SRDC to announce $5.5 million in investments supporting apprenticeships, and national-scale recruitment, assessment, and training to help underrepresented workers find well-paid careers in the skilled trades.
“Canadians are ready to work – and we are ready to provide a path towards their dream jobs,” says Minister Boissonnault, “Together with CBTU, SkillPlan and a variety of other organizations – our government is making it easier to train and get work in the trades. By building this infrastructure, we are ensuring that every generation has access to fulfilling and good paying jobs.”
“Apprenticeship is the path to high-quality jobs in the skilled trades,” says Sean Strickland, Executive Director of Canada’s Building Trades Unions, “that’s why as national and provincial building trades councils meet today with our workforce development, we’re pleased to be joined by Minister Boissonnault, and thrilled by the government’s continued investments in cutting edge online learning tools for pre-apprenticeship learners and apprentices.”
Minister Boissonnault also joined workforce development experts and union leadership from across the country for a demonstration of the Build Your Skills Online Learning Hub, which has been supported by the Government of Canada’s ongoing investments in the skilled trades.
“Collaboration and partnership with unions, training and workforce development experts, and researchers is the name of the game when it comes to building successful programs,” says Kyle Downie, CEO of SkillPlan, “We’re thrilled that the Minister could join us, and more importantly, let us know that the Government of Canada is continuing to invest in the programs we know are successful in delivering successful apprenticeships and careers in the skilled trades.”
Funding from the Government of Canada was awarded to two projects: Expanding Apprenticeship Success through Improved and Enhanced Systems of Technology and Enhancing the National Recruitment and Training System for Construction. The jointly awarded projects will see collaboration between CBTU, Provincial Building Trades Councils, Social Research and Demonstration Corporation, British Columbia Colleges, Magnet and Future Skills Centre. The joint projects will support individuals in preparing for, progressing, and obtaining apprenticeship certification in 21 Red Seal construction trades, and support a national-scale strategy to help underrepresented groups explore careers in the skilled trades.
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Media Contact
Nathan Carr ncarr@buildingtrades.ca | 416-333-8732
About CBTU
Canada’s Building Trades Unions is the national voice for 14 international unions collectively representing over 600,000 skilled trades workers in Canada. Each year, our unions and our signatory contractor partners invest over $300 million in private sector money to fund and operate over 175 apprenticeship training and education facilities across Canada that produce the safest, most highly trained and productive skilled craft workers found anywhere in the world. Canada’s Building Trades Unions represent members who work in more than 60 different trades and occupations and generate six per cent of Canada’s GDP. For more information, visit www.buildingtrades.ca.
About SkillPlan
SkillPlan is a nationally recognized leader in workforce development programming. With over 30 years of experience, SkillPlan designs customized workforce development solutions, products and tools and provides services for employers, unions, trainers and workers, with a focus on pinpointing foundational skills’ challenges and designing curriculum and industry-specific training programs to help workers succeed in technical training and on the job. SkillPlan serves 14 international building trades unions and their affiliated contractors and training providers. Every year, SkillPlan supports tens of thousands of apprentices in succeeding in their trade certification and Red Seal programs.For more information, visit www.skillplan.ca.
About Provincial Building Trades Councils
CBTU’s provincial councils represent members’ interests in every jurisdiction across the country. These councils strive to improve provincial labour laws and educational standards and help to coordinate the activities of local offices. For more information, visit https://buildingtrades.ca/about-us/provincial-councils/.
About Social Research and Demonstration Corporation Canada
SRDC is a non-profit research organization created specifically to develop, field test and rigorously evaluate new programs. Its two-part mission is to help policymakers and practitioners identify policies and programs that improve the well-being of all Canadians, with a special concern for the effects on the disadvantaged, and to raise the standards of evidence that are used in assessing these policies. Since its establishment in December 1991, SRDC’s team has conducted over 450 projects and studies for various federal and provincial departments, municipalities, as well as other public and non-profit organizations.
Future Skills Centre
The Future Skills Centre (FSC) is a forward-thinking centre for research and collaboration dedicated to driving innovation in skills development so that everyone in Canada can be prepared for the future of work. FSC partners with policymakers, researchers, practitioners, employers and labour groups, and post-secondary institutions to solve pressing labour market challenges and ensure that everyone can benefit from relevant lifelong learning opportunities. FSC is founded by a consortium whose members are Toronto Metropolitan University, Blueprint, and The Conference Board of Canada, and is funded by the Government of Canada’s Future Skills Program.
BC Colleges BC Colleges is an association of British Columbia’s public, post-secondary college. Its primary mission focuses on facilitating collaboration among its colleges and with other post-secondary institutions, employers and industry. By doing so, BC Colleges helps build a workforce for British Columbia that’s not just well-educated, but also highly skilled and employer ready.
