Apprenticeship Consistency Expands Opportunities

Government is working to align training and standards for six more trades under a federal-provincial agreement to allow apprentices to complete training quicker.

Carpenter, welder, metal fabricator, steamfitter-pipefitter, plumber and industrial electrician apprentices will soon have more consistencies in curriculum, log books and course sequences across the Atlantic provinces. This has already started for bricklayer, instrumentation and control technician, construction electrician, and cook.

Right now, if the demand for specific training is not high enough in their home province, apprentices sometimes have to wait until more apprentices register or take the training outside the Atlantic region.

"This will make it a lot easier for apprentices to get their technical training," said Devin Jessome, third-year instrumentation and control technician apprentice. "Because there weren't enough of us studying in the trade, I had to go out West to get my training. If these changes were in place then, I would have been able to stay closer to home."

The changes will allow apprentices to take advantage of opportunities across the Atlantic provinces since the training will be consistent.

"Apprenticeship is a priority and we're focused on helping young people find jobs and training opportunities in the trades, close to home," said Kelly Regan, Minister responsible for the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency. "Creating consistencies and aligning courses across the region will help our apprentices get the training they need, and help our employers recruit the people they need."

Work in all 10 trades is expected to be complete by 2017. These trades cover almost 60 per cent of Nova Scotia's apprentices.

"Our government's top priority is creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity," said Jason Kenney, federal Minister of Employment and Social Development. "That is why we are working with the Atlantic provinces to remove barriers caused by different apprenticeship systems, so that we can help more Canadians get the skills and experience they need and benefit from well-paid, in-demand jobs.

"Harmonizing apprenticeship requirements in Atlantic Canada will improve completion rates, address skills shortages and create jobs for apprentices."

This project complements the Interprovincial Red Seal Program and work by the Canadian Council of Directors of Apprenticeship and the New West Partnership to eliminate barriers for apprentices and make it easier for them to work and train in other jurisdictions.