BC Construction Labour Industry Calls for 25% Apprentice Quota

BC Construction Labour Industry Calls for 25% Apprentice Quota

 

May 14, 2017

Construction labour representatives in B.C. are looking for the provincial government to set a firm quota, reports Jean Sorensen in the Journal of Commerce.

The labour reps have requested that 25% of those employed on new government projects be apprentices, a figure first suggested by the BC government. Irene Lanzinger, President of the BC Federation of Labour, would like the private sector to step up as well. If the private construction sector is not fully engaged, she says, employers working on those sites will be poaching skilled labour in the future.

A BC government press release states, “Much of the driving force to increase opportunities for apprenticeship sponsorship comes from recommendations made in two reports: the McDonald ITA Report and the premier’s Liquefied Natural Gas Working Group, which aspires to a goal of having 25% of overall workforce on LNG-related construction projects to be apprentice-able trades.”

Sorensen’s article notes that BC Construction Association President Chris Atchison is not sure about setting a quota. Such a quota may be difficult to meet in the event of looming skills shortages and affect a company when bidding on a contract, he maintains.

“I think if we put a fixed number on it then it becomes an expectation that you have to meet and if the labour is not there to meet it, you could be in a bit of a corner,” Atchison is quoted as saying.

Read the full article: http://journalofcommerce.com/Labour/News/2017/5/Construction-labour-industry-wants-25-per-cent-apprentice-quota-1023602W/.

Related Articles

Government of Ontario

Ontario Investing Up to $260 Million to Train Workers

August 1, 2024 Applications now open for largest round of Skills Development Fund to train workers in manufacturing, construction and technology  The Ontario government’s Skills Development Fund (SDF) Training Stream opens today, with up to an additional $260 million available, the biggest funding round since the Fund launched in 2021. Building on the success of the previous…

Latest Articles

  • Declines in Ontario and Manitoba Construction Intentions Push Down the Non-Residential Sector

    Declines in Ontario and Manitoba Construction Intentions Push Down the Non-Residential Sector

    December 16, 2024 The total value of building permits issued in Canada decreased by $399.1 million (-3.1%) to $12.6 billion in October. This comes on the heels of a strong September, during which construction intentions rose by $1.3 billion to the second-highest level in the series. Despite the monthly decline in October, the total value of building permits… Read More…

  • Lighting Control Basics for Home Automation

    Lighting Control Basics for Home Automation

    By Matthew Biswas Do your eyes roll when you hear terms like Smart home technology?  Or are you a true believer?  As it turns out controlling electrical devices via low-voltage technology can be easier to implement and use than many of us thought. The Lutron Caseta system uses the internet and Radio Frequency to instantly… Read More…

  • Grounded in Ontario: The Future of Energy Storage Systems

    Grounded in Ontario: The Future of Energy Storage Systems

    December 16, 2024 Technical Advisor Trevor Tremblay explains why following best practices and relying on licensed professionals will ensure a smooth and secure transition when integrating this exciting new technology. Energy Storage Systems (ESS) are revolutionizing the way individuals and businesses manage energy, providing cost-saving opportunities, increased energy reliability, and a pathway toward sustainability. In… Read More…

  • 4 in 5 Canadians See Electrifying Public Transit as Key to Advancing Climate Action, Schneider Electric Survey Finds

    4 in 5 Canadians See Electrifying Public Transit as Key to Advancing Climate Action, Schneider Electric Survey Finds

    December 13, 2024 Schneider Electric has released new survey findings showing Canadians are increasingly concerned about the environmental impact of traditional public transit emissions. According to the survey, 83 per cent of Canadians recognize the need for electrified transit to support a sustainable future and are seeking actionable and innovative solutions to ease the nation’s… Read More…

Changing Scene