BRESLAU, ONT. — The federal government has announced it is allocating $5.5 million to the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) Local 804 in the Waterloo region for the local’s Pre-Apprentice Training and Retention Innovative Learning Program.
The government is spending $25 million annually in the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) through two streams: the Investments in Training Equipment stream and the Innovation in Apprenticeship stream.
The programs are targeted to help unions across Canada by improving quality of training through investments in equipment and materials and supporting innovation and improved partnerships to address challenges that limit apprenticeship effectiveness, stated a July 4 release.
The Waterloo project is funded under UTIP’s Innovation in Apprenticeship stream. Local 804 will train a total of 240 electrical trade apprentices. The program includes 11 weeks of classroom training, including practical learning, followed by 17 weeks of on-the-job training with a contractor. Participants will include existing IBEW members and members that will relocate to the Waterloo region.
“Canada’s future success depends on building an economy that is as inclusive as it is innovative. That’s why our government is investing in this project that will help apprentices in the Waterloo region, and especially those who face additional barriers to participate and succeed in the skilled trades,” said Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patty Hajdu in the statement.
“Funding received through UTIP benefits employers and apprentices alike and will help us continue to expand upon our inclusion and diversity objectives. It will enable us to train the next generation of electrical tradespeople through traditional hands-on and new innovative online learning, as well as on-the-job experience. In turn, employers are able to hire employees that have in-demand skills.” said Mark Watson, Local 804 business manager.
Great news when the federal government is investing in training skilled electricians when there is a massive shortage of workers, don’t expect Doug Ford to follow the path, after all, Doug closed Ontario College of Trades nine months ago without giving concern to apprentices and trades workers, we still await Doug’s master plan.
IBEW has always been the independent leader of first class education for apprentices and upgrading existing workers, the province needs to tuneup colleges to meet the skills that IBEW has been performing for years.