17
May
2019
|
17:00 PM
Europe/Amsterdam

Government announces funding for City School by Mohawk

Skilled Trades Awareness & Readiness program to fund new mobile classroom

 

(the following is the official release from Employment and Social Development Canada)

 

Government of Canada helps Canadians in Hamilton prepare for high demand and
well-paying jobs in the skilled trades

Canada’s changing economy and investments in infrastructure makes skills training critical to our future. To keep our economy strong and growing, Canadians will need the right skills to fill in-demand and well-paying jobs. The Government of Canada is taking steps to encourage key groups facing barriers to explore careers in the trades.

Today, Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister for Seniors, announced on behalf of the Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, funding of $4,084,635 to Mohawk College and Marshall School of Skilled Trades & Apprenticeship for its Mobile Classroom project that will support local apprentices. This project is funded through the new Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program, which encourages more women, Indigenous people, newcomers, people with disabilities and youth, to pursue careers in the skilled trades through career exploration, skills training and work experience.

Approximately 5,000 Canadians over four to five years are expected to benefit from the new Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program. Funding started with $6 million in 2018-2019 and $10 million per year ongoing thereafter, as announced in Budget 2018.

Through the Mobile Classroom project, Mohawk College will provide practical skills and training for those seeking work within the trades. It will also provide information on workplace culture and safety, insight into trades careers and develop essential employability skills.

Employers, provinces and territories, learning institutions, unions, community organizations and individuals all have key roles to play in Canada’s continued success in building a skilled, mobile and certified workforce that supports Canada’s labour market.

Quotes

“The new Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program will equip Canadians from key groups with the foundational skills, knowledge and experience they need to get trained and start well-paying careers in the skilled trades. By creating a skilled, diverse and inclusive workforce, our Government is strengthening the middle class and creating a more prosperous country.”

– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“Our Government’s support for this project with Mohawk College will help Canadians in Hamilton prepare for good jobs in the skilled trades, build better lives for themselves and make their communities stronger.”

– The Honourable Filomena Tassi, Minister for Seniors

“This program will help bridge the gap between employers looking to hire skilled workers and people who need good paying jobs. Building on the success of City School by Mohawk’s flexible mobile delivery model, students will get hands-on experience while interacting with local employers and exploring careers that are in high demand. We’re confident the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness program will make a significant contribution to Hamilton’s economic prosperity.”

– Ron McKerlie, President, Mohawk College

Quick Facts

  • 1 in 5 employed Canadians work in the skilled trades, representing almost 4 million workers.
  • 219,000 skilled trades workers are expected to retire between 2014 and 2020, leaving a workforce shortage.
  • $69,512 is the annual average salary of skilled tradespeople in Canada.
  • 547,000 job openings for Red Seal trades are projected over the period 2017-2026.
  • Barriers related to technical training prevent some apprentices from completing their levels and programs. According to studies undertaken by Statistics Canada, the apprenticeship completion rate has been at 50 per cent or less for well over a decade.
  • There are a number of benefits for apprentices who complete their training. Those who earn certification are more likely to be employed full-time and earn more than those with no certification.
  • Women’s representation in Red Seal trades where women are under-represented was at 5 percent in 2017.