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Building Trades Thank Rodger Cuzner for a Lifetime of Work!

As the current Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Labour, Rodger Cuzner:
Rodger Cuzner understands the challenges that workers face, the I can’t say for certain how it has impacted on a specific piece of
value they bring to the table, and, how their contribution is the tie legislation, but I have always believed if you respect the Members
that binds the social fabric of this country. He has been a long- opposite, there is a good chance to have that respect returned.
time advocate for the women and men that make up the building
I do remember back when the Conservatives were moving to shut
trades. The Building Trades acknowledge Rodger’s lifetime of
down the summer student program in 2007 and Mike Savage and
dedication, support and work and, on behalf of Canada’s Building
I went after them hard on the issue. Several Conservative
Trades Union Members. We wish you nothing but happiness,
members including the late Greg Thompson who was Minister of
health and a well-deserved retirement! But before he officially
Veteran Affairs at the time, came to see me, to encourage us to
retires from public duty, he took the time to answer a few of our
keep up the fight. They were pushing back on the issue within
questions:
their government’s caucus, and with us hitting them in Question
Question: Period, the result was Prime Minster Harper went to the Human
You have been a Member of Parliament for nearly 20 years, but Resources Minister Monte Solberg and told him to fix this.
have chosen not to reoffer in 2019. Why and what’s next for you?
Question:
Rodger Cuzner: For the last several years, you have worked as the Parliamentary
It’s been an honour to serve the people of Cape Breton-Canso in Secretary for Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.
the House of Commons for the past 19 years, but there comes a In that time, what would you identify as the largest challenges
time when you have to ask yourself whether or not you have the facing workforce development?
same drive, that same level of commitment and fire in your belly
Rodger Cuzner:
to get up every day and serve the people who have placed their
There would be a number but two stand out. Including
trust in you. I feel it’s time for a younger, fresher approach with
underrepresented groups in the workforce is a challenge: women,
new energy to step up. I’m not sad to be leaving, more so I’m
indigenous Canadians, persons with disabilities, new Canadians.
happy to have been afforded the opportunity to serve. As far as
Often different approaches to training are needed and additional
what’s ahead, I am weighing a couple of options, but hope to find
supports are required. We are getting better at it and are seeing
another venue to engage and contribute.
some success and best practices emerge but there is more work
Question: to do.
You are often cited as the most-collegial member of parliament by
The other is interprovincial recognition of training and credentials.
members of all political stripes. How has that helped push forward
The Red Seal standard for journeymen tradespeople is a
legislation that you support?
tremendous national advantage. To develop national standards
in apprenticeships would be a huge benefit. Currently several
provinces have bilateral agreements and progress is being made
but we have to keep moving it forward.
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