Speaking Notes
for
the Honourable Diane Finley,
Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development
on
Apprenticeships Grants
Halifax, Nova Scotia
March 20, 2012
Hello Halifax!
It is always a treat to come back here. And what an exciting place to be!
Now, I’m fully aware of just how proud you are of your hospitality. And you should be proud.
The news of the shipbuilding contract being awarded here at Irving is tremendous for you and the economy. Both here in Halifax and throughout the Atlantic region.
So thanks to the kind folks at Irving who have graciously hosted us today, amidst a very busy operation, to talk about important matters for ensuring growth and prosperity here in Atlantic Canada – and throughout the country.
Thanks as well to those who are joining us in person here today, to take part in this morning’s activities. I am hosting a roundtable immediately after this event and I look forward to our discussion and your thoughts.
I want to kick things off this morning with a story I heard recently.
Several weeks after a young man had been hired, he was called into the HR director’s office for a “very important meeting”. Now I may be the Minister of HRSD, but we all know that sort of meeting request is never good.
“What is the meaning of this?” the director asked. “When you applied for this job, you told us that you had five years’ work experience. We’ve since discovered that this is the first job that you’ve ever held in your life.”
The young man was quiet for a moment but took a deep breath and said, “but in your advertisement you said you wanted somebody with imagination.”
As comical as that story is, it speaks to a broader issue.
We need to think about our future labour market differently, applying imagination – and innovation – in ways like never before when it comes to obtaining and retaining workers.
That’s because we are about to face a situation in this country where we will have more jobs than skilled workers. I know it is hard to believe with the global economy as fragile as it is, but it is true.
You’re facing it here in Halifaxin certain sectors already – and the shipbuilding contract is a prime example of the need for access to skilled labour.
There’s a paradox at play though. Employment levels vary widely in different parts of the country. In some areas, the shortages of workers are critical. If not addressed, those shortages could cripple companies and the economy over time. Yet in other regions, where unemployment is higher, we also see companies looking for workers.
According to last year`s Job Vacancy Survey, over 250,000 positions remained unfilled last year and that number is only going to get higher.
For example, CADSI estimates that the federal shipbuilding contract will generate over 15,000 jobs over the next 30 years.
Our government remains committed to ensuring the people of Nova Scotia and the Atlantic Provinces reap the benefits of the shipbuilding contract.
I know my counterpart, Bernard Valcourt, has been busy with the Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan which helps local and regional businesses get the information they need to take advantage of the opportunities that are available.
I know he’s already held a number of information sessions throughout the Atlantic Provinces with hundreds of businesses attending.
The shipbuilding contract is clearly great news for the province, especially with the unemployment rate in Nova Scotia at 8.4% and 42,000 Nova Scotians unemployed.
To our Government, that is 42,000 too many.
Surprisingly, with 42,000 Nova Scotians looking for work, the Provincial Government is already calling for the federal Government to allow for foreign workers to come to Canada to perform work on the ships.
Our Government believes it is important to find the right people with the right skills to do the work.
We also know that those workers can be found in Nova Scotia and our first priority is linking the 42,000 Nova Scotians looking for work with the shipbuilding jobs that are available.
If they do not have the skills needed for the shipbuilding jobs, we should help them get the skills they need.
We must be doing everything we can to help Nova Scotians – and others in the Atlantic region – get shipbuilding jobs first.
The federal Government has a role in this regard. We need to ensure maximum participation in the labour market, encouraging and supporting people to get back to work.
For starters, we need to do a better job of making sure that Canadians looking for work know about the work that is available.
In today’s day and age, there is no reason why we cannot improve how we send job postings to people looking for work.
We must also do a better job of training people for the jobs that are available.
If there is a need for skilled workers to build ships in Nova Scotia, we need to help ensure training is available for the 42,000 Nova Scotians looking for work to build ships.
We need to ensure they get trained for whatever jobs are available.
This is not just a problem inNova Scotia. Look at Newfoundland and Labrador.
The province has an unemployment rate of 13.5% with almost 36,000 people unemployed.
Yet, there are a number of major economic projects in the province that are desperately searching for workers.
Vale is building a $3 billion nickel processor on Placentia Bay.
Recently, I read that the manager of the project needs an additional 1,500 skilled workers by this summer to do the work needed.
In fact, according to the story, the manager was in a “mad scramble” to find the workers.
The company desperately needs 1,500 skilled workers in a province with 36,000 people unemployed.
Clearly, there is a problem that needs to be addressed. We need to be looking at the thousands of people who are unemployed to fill the positions that are available.
If they don’t know about the jobs, we need to make sure they know about them.
If they don’t have the necessary skills, we need to help them get trained.
This must happen as there are more major economic projects in the province that require thousands of workers.
Let me be clear: our government’s first priority is helping unemployed Canadians who want to work, get back to work.
Whether it is in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and Labrador, or anywhere else in our great country, we are committed to helping Canadians get back to work.
Our Government has taken action to invest in skills development for Canadians through grants, tax credits and support for training programs.
Today, I’d like to focus on just one of these investments— our support for apprenticeships. It is fitting since we’re here at Irving Shipyards where a number of apprentices have had the opportunity to work and gain tremendous experience.
Many of them are here today with us, just behind me – I’ll introduce them in a moment.
Apprenticeships
I’m not sure if you’re aware, but to date, more than 50 skilled trades are included in the Red Seal program. Almost 80 per cent of all apprentices are in Red Seal trades and these occupations involve almost 80 per cent of the total trades workforce in Canada.
People with Red Seal certification are in high demand and go on to good paying, skilled jobs.
The Red Seal program also allows qualified people to practice their trade anywhere in Canada without having to write additional exams.
To encourage people to get into the Red Seal trades, we created the Apprenticeship Incentive and Completion Grants.
People who complete their apprenticeship training in a designated Red Seal trade and become certified journeypersons could be eligible to receive up to $4,000.
To date, our government has provided over $377 million in apprenticeship grants. In fact, over 7,000 grants have been given to apprentices right here in Nova Scotia.
We’re encouraging young people, including young women, to enter the skilled trades.
And, while I’m here, let me put in a good word for trades in the shipbuilding industry.
This industry has openings for apprentices in Red Seal trades like metal fabrication, welding, pipefitting and steam-fitting.
There is no doubt that Irving’s shipbuilding contract will create many job opportunities for years to come. These opportunities go beyond this shipyard and will benefit the entire region.
Behind me today are a number of apprentices from here at Irving, and also some who are participating in the Nova Scotia Skills Competition, taking place this upcoming weekend.
I’m very proud of all of you – and thank you again for being here. Lead applause
Conclusion
I’ll wrap up by reiterating what I said earlier.
Government programs must evolve to meet the needs of the labour market both today and tomorrow so that we’re continuing to create jobs and economic growth in this great country of ours. From the beautiful Atlantic region to the north and the west coasts.
Thank you again for coming and I look forward to meeting more of you this morning and listening – carefully – to your thoughts on how we continue to move forward, for Canada’s future.
Thank you.
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