4. July 23, 2008 — If you branch the trade, how will you become a well rounded Ironworker? I did 4 years of reinforcing, 8 months of curtain wall, 2 years of post tensioning, and 10 years of structural. I can still tie rod, and I hold a welding ticket as well. In my opinion, if the training is divided then the apprentice will not have a general understanding of what a building is from start to finish. Respond to this comment

Troy Idler, Ironworkers Local 97, Burnaby, BC

3. July 23, 2008 — Splitting the ironworker trade into specialized certificates is at best a band-aid solution to a major problem facing the provincial governments in British Columbiaand Alberta. Year after year, the provincial governments have played with the apprenticeship programs to suit political agendas or lobbyists. Leave the darn thing alone! Quit playing with young people's lives and opportunities. For years I sat on government-sanctioned committees which in slow periods of work were concerned that the apprenticeships did not have enough qualifications to allow them to freely move around in different aspects of trades. For example, if there was no work in the ironworker trade, an ironworker could go work in the masonry field when that particular trade was busy.
The government, both provincially and federally, knew this tremendous work boom was coming. It was no mystery. They have all the facts, all the figures, all the numbers.
Construction in BC employees more than all other industries combined: fishing, mining, forestry, tourism, etc. Yes, as an employer of ironworkers, I am concerned with the shortage of qualified tradesmen. Yes, as a businessman, the quicker I can get qualified tradesmen the better. But as a qualified tradesman, I think back to what it meant to be an ironworker and the abilities it gave me and the opportunities to travel freely from city to city, province to province, Canada to the US.
I did not provide a burden to the taxpayers by being unemployed. Do you want my ideas? Start funding these young kids pursuing an apprenticeship. Give them all the opportunities college and university students receive like student loans, housing, scholarships, etc. Provide them the means to pursue their goals. We can't all have a university degree. It's not the end of the world not having one anymore. Respond to this comment

Russ Fanucchi, President, Namdor Reinforcing Steel, Victoria, BC

2. July 22, 2008 — It will limit the abilities and opportunities for another group of Canadian trades people. This kind of thing did major damage to the carpentry trade so why not try to make a hash of another trade? Respond to this comment

James Leland, Nelson, BC

1. July 22, 2008 — Branching of the trades leaves the choice up to the apprentice. Apprentices have always questioned why they had to train in an aspect of the trade they will never use, such as Structural or Reinforcing. The other problem is if you enforce the Generalist training, the apprentice may only have field hours relating to one or the other and that creates a safety issue.
If a contractor requires or an apprentice is planning on using both aspects of the trade, it can be predetermined that he or she take the generalist training.
The branching of the IW trade puts the West in line with the other provinces, which makes mobility across Canada and recognition of training much more productive. Branching of the trades is the right thing to do. Respond to this comment

Darrell LaBoucan, Union Rep, Ironworkers International, Alberta