Professional Development/Skills Training

June 17, 2013

Federal project apprentices discussed

Improved employer apprenticeship tax credits and a better understanding of the national apprenticeship landscape are essential, say industry stakeholders, if the federal government intends to promote apprentice use on federal projects.

June 10, 2013

B.C. on right track with apprentices

Critics of British Columbia's training system for the skilled trades need to take a hard look at a new report from the C.D. Howe Institute.

May 20, 2013

Essential skills can play a vital role in an apprentices' success

An apprentice's essential Skill level has a critical role in determining his or her success in the trades.

May 13, 2013

Allegations of students signing union cards refuted

The B.C. Institute of Technology (BCIT) is denying allegations by the local open shop contractors association that the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) is being allowed to sign up apprentices in classrooms at the publicly funded school.

May 8, 2013

Infrastructure spending may be best way to ensure training

Some industry leaders believe the most effective boost the federal government budget initiatives can give Canada's apprentice training system is ensuring there is work and finding new means of helping apprentices complete their journey person status.

May 6, 2013

Open shop opposes apprenticeship quotas for public projects

Open shop associations in Western Canada don't want to see mandatory or prescriptive quotas for apprentices imposed on government contracts, whether they are provincial or federal.

April 24, 2013

B.C. NDP unveil apprenticeship training platform

The B.C. New Democratic Party (NDP) is promising to invest millions of dollars in skills training and the apprenticeship system as the provincial election campaign gets underway, but critics say the plan will only increase the skilled labour shortage.

April 15, 2013

Course designed to promote water and wastewater careers

The B.C. Water and Wastewater Association (BCWWA) will seek additional funding if the $454,000 used to put 32 individuals through a six-week introductory program yields results.

April 1, 2013

Saskatchewan budget increases capital spending

The 2013 Saskatchewan budget is preparing for continued growth in the province by providing support for apprentices and increasing public sector investment in basic infrastructure such as highways, roads, schools and affordable housing.

March 27, 2013

Federal budget introduces skills training initiative

The 2013 Federal budget is launching a new initiative for apprenticeship training and introduces a plan for the construction of long-term infrastructure, while maintaining a focus on eliminating the deficit.

July 14, 2008

Concerns voiced over plans to make ironworkers trade more specialized

The British Columbia Industry Training Authority (BCITA) is in the process of updating the ironworkers trade certification by making the designation more specialized, but some people in the industry believe the changes will harm the trade.

July 14, 2008

University of the Fraser Valley combines trades training with academics

In the world of construction-industry professional development, there is a facility in the Fraser Valley that is definitely marching to its own drummer.

July 14, 2008

Construction employment awaits many CORE graduates

Tradeworks Training Society offers a number of construction-related training programs, but one in particular aims to get disadvantaged inner city residents onto the Vancouver Olympic Athletes Village worksite in about eight weeks.

July 14, 2008

Youth strut their stuff at 14th Canadian Skills Competition

Canadian students and apprentices competed in Canada’s largest national trade competition in Calgary for a chance to qualify for the 2009 WorldSkills Competition.