Welland, ON – Today, Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre, introduced his Private Member’s Motion M-227, which states:

That the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development, and the Status of Persons with Disabilities (HUMA) be instructed to undertake a study of the creation of a federal trades strategy, to consider, amongst other things:

1. Regional labour shortages in the skilled trades;
2. the impact labour shortages could have on major projects across Canada; and
3. how skills shortages are exacerbating these labour shortages by preventing workers from being able to find employment.

Niagara, not unlike other jurisdictions, is beginning to experience a skilled trades shortage. A need for welders, pipefitters, boilermakers, seafarers, tile setters, plumbers, technicians, chefs, and other hands-on hard-working skilled tradespeople.

Thanks to the efforts of the Honourable Patti Hajdu, Minister of Workforce, Employment and Labour, this government has significantly boosted federal support to provinces and territories by $2.7 Billion over six years – this to help more unemployed and underemployed Canadians access the training and employment supports they need to find and keep good jobs. MP Badawey’s motion, M-227, the creation of a Federal Trades Strategy, will bring together all of our partners, such as employers, educational institutions, and organized labour to build on what Minister Hajdu has initiated.

Quotes

“I have heard from our businesses, community and union partners across Niagara, as have my colleagues in this House, that there is an immediate and severe lack of skilled tradespeople. It is critical that Canada develops a national skilled trades strategy and works with our partners to identify labour shortages across the country.”

– Vance Badawey, Member of Parliament for Niagara Centre

‘The Seafarers’ International Union of Canada (SIU) applauds MP Vance Badawey’s announcement to undertake a study to develop a Federal Trades Strategy. Maritime transportation and Canadian seafarers play a vital role in supporting the Canadian economy. We welcome any initiative to assist Canadian and permanent resident workers who are looking to enter this growing industry.”

– Jim Given, President of the Seafarers’ International Union of Canada

“Shortages in the Skilled Trades is a genuine concern. With a national strategic skilled tradesplan we could better predict where and when these shortfalls will occur and how labour mobility from across the country can serve to mitigate shortages. A study on how labour mobility strategies can be explored, as well as attracting and retaining more women, Indigenous people, youth and new Canadians to a career path in the skilled trades is needed. The current government has done a great job investing in the skilled trades, and now is the time for the nextstep, and that is for a National Strategy.”

– Mark Cherney, Business Manager of IBEW Local 303 and President of the Niagara and Haldimand Building Trades Council

“While we’ve developed our training programs over generations of skills development and industry advancements in partnership with engineering advancement and design modernization; and, there’s no doubt that the current trends in innovation and energy efficiency will be adapted the same way we’ve seen with the advancements of the past; unfortunately, we have not put the necessary effort into our recruitment practices. We have never seen the shortage concerns before that we’re seeing today. We have seen periods where the need and demand looked to raise, but we were able to meet those challenges. We’ve never taken the timeto address change, now we are. We are rapidly modernizing and expanding our hiring practices, outreach and inclusion efforts, while being cognizant of the jobs for tomorrow – how thechanging needs of Canada’s economy will result in very different infrastructure being builttomorrow from what we have traditionally seen. It is absolutely crucial that the Government of Canada instruct the appropriate body and include the appropriate stakeholders to undertake a study of the creation of a federal trades strategy to ensure Canada remains both nationally and globally competitive, well prepared for the future, while utilizing all resources available.“

– Arlene Dunn, Director, Canada’s Building Trades Unions (CBTU)