March 10, 2010

Industry welcomes federal government’s commitment to labour-market tracking

VINCE VERSACE

staff writer

The federal government’s recent commitment to provide up-to-date labour market information and innovation by colleges is music to the Construction Sector Council’s ears.

“It validates the importance of having labour market intelligence to ensure your policies and programs are targeted,” explained George Gritziotis, executive director of CSC. “Also, it validates what we have been doing with industry in developing a labour market forecast capability to help stakeholders. It puts horsepower behind us moving forward in working with government.”

In the recent throne speech, the federal Conservatives stated that the Canadian economy depends on a skilled and educated workforce and that it would make “timely information on labour market opportunities available... especially in the area of skilled trades.”

Ottawa has also doubled the budget of the College and Community Innovation Program with an additional $15 million in the 2010 federal budget.

This program allows applied research collaborations between colleges and companies to find innovative industry solutions.

The government said Canada’s colleges and polytechnics, in over 1,000 communities, are “uniquely placed” to work with businesses and industries to address real-life market needs and opportunities.

How this bolstered funding plays out will take time but it opens opportunities to address new trends affecting construction, said Gritziotis.

“There are new trends and from our perspective green construction is a reality and touching all parts of the industry from residential to ICI,” he said.

“This investment is an opportunity to begin addressing what our training requirements are in the context of green construction.

Also, there are new trends in technology, whether it is new pieces of equipment or on the tools and we can begin to address those needs as well."

The federal budget earmarks $1.9 billion for post-secondary education infrastructure, research, technology innovation and environmental protection. Ottawa will also provide close to $1 billion over the next year to “enhance training opportunities” for Canadian workers which includes additional support to the provinces and territories to expand training and skills development.

Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the government’s two-year stimulus rollout now in its second year, allocated $7 billion over two years to help workers affected by the recession. Of the $1.9 billion for training, $80 million was for the apprenticeship completion grant.

“Initiatives like the apprenticeship grant helps with the future of our industry,” said Gritziotis. “It is there, the government is promoting it and it is incumbent on us to promote it and for the industry to take it up.”

With construction activity levels in 2010 and heading into next year projected to pass 2008 levels a clear priority remains for construction- meeting potential labour shortages, noted Gritzioitis. Apprenticeships and mentorship on job sites are vital keys to meeting such future demands.

“When you are thinking about what our requirements are going forward, it (apprenticeship) is an important piece; it is an area we should be zeroing in on in a supportive fashion,” said Gritziotis.

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