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not doing well in almost all of his courses. And it wasn't until he they're not getting top of things in school, but sometimes you can
had actually a grade nine carpentry, which he sort of liked but it learn those on the job. And so things like paid internships, those
wasn't glowing. But certainly I saw more enthusiasm than I had apprenticeships are incredibly important to help teach those kinds
seen for anything else. And then in grade 10, his high school had of skills because that student gets an opportunity to learn on the
a collaborative program with the local community college that was job and they're not just learning the technical things, they're also
a welding program. learning how to fit into corporate culture, what that particular
sector expects of you, how to behave in group settings, etc. That's
He could study welding in high school and then get some
why I think things like our investment in apprenticeships,
advanced credits with the college, and that's when his interest in
investments in internships at all different kinds of levels and
the trades really took off. But more than that, also his self-esteem
sectors. Those are the kinds of things that are going to help
started to increase, and I think that was really important to me
address some of those soft skills. But it is a challenge, and I will
as a mom is watching my son start to feel like he was good at
tell you that that's been sort of top of mind for us as we work
something. And that it wasn't just because he was lazy that he
wasn't doing well, but that in fact he found something he was things on the employment side, like the youth employment
strategy, which is really about trying to make sure that young
passionate about.
people have those first job experiences and trying to rework them
Question: in a way that will provide the kinds of supports that you need in
The Federal Government has, over the last four years, invested in order to get those EQ talents that can go a lot further, in some
training and attracting people to the skilled trades, including the cases, than their own skills training.
recent announcement of a new advisory committee to promote
well-paying careers in the skilled trades for young Canadians. Question:
Minister Hajdu is no stranger to struggle. She was the first in her
Minister Hajdu: family to graduate from university, and overcome many challenges
I think in terms of government, the kinds of things that we're trying
both personally and professionally. We asked what advice or
to do are attracting people to the skilled trades that maybe haven't
lessons she could share to inspire those who are struggling
seen themselves there before. Working closely with unions, for
financially or otherwise.
example, to have programs and innovative new ways to actually
bring more people to the doors is one of the good ways. But also Minister Hajdu:
a national media campaign, to talk about apprenticeships and I think one of the things that helped me be successful is the
skilled trades as a honourable career choice, as a great-paying people that lent me a hand all along my journey. And there's too
career choice. And I think we're going to have to work with
many to name really because it started when I was a young girl
educational partners and parents, quite frankly, because it's still
leaving home at 16. But I've never been afraid to ask for help and
parents that are in some ways misguided in terms of what skill
people have always offered me help and I've never been afraid to
trades really all are about. And so for me this is a really, really
say yes and accept that help. There's no shame in getting help.
important piece. Making sure that we are actually elevating the
conversation about the shortage, the complexity, and the skill and And you know what? We all need a little bit of help from our friends
the opportunity so that we have a better conversation that's from time to time. Even now, when I'm really struggling with
happening in homes as well. I think our government is taking it something, whether it's personal or professional, I have mentors
quite seriously that we do have a role and that we have a role to in my life that I can call and I can say this is really painful or I'm
lead in terms of the provincial work as well that has to happen. really, I'm really scared or I don't know what to do.
Question: But generally speaking, life is hard and, and we can't do it alone.
While the labour shortage and the need to address it is real, there We actually need to act collectively to succeed. That's the sort of
is another issue on the minds of employers and human resources foundation behind family. It's the foundation behind community
specialists when we talk about work. Emotional Intelligence is the and it's certainly I think a huge ingredient in terms of my own
capacity to understand and manage your emotions. This phrase success is that I've never been afraid to try and I've never been
has become somewhat of a buzzword when discussing work and afraid to ask for help.
how emotional intelligence can be a better indicator of success
than someone’s IQ. This is a topic Minister Hajdu has spoken
about in the past and was asked about this in relation to Canada’s
workforce.
Minister Hajdu:
First we talk about the labour shortage, which is real, but they also
say that young people are coming out of school, training, you name
it, and they're not gaining some of those tangible work... those
intangible work kind of qualities. Like how to get along with others,
how to deal with difficult situations, how to solve conflict, how to
problem solve, how to prioritize. You know, all of those things that
we take for granted after you hit a certain age, or maybe we take
for granted, a lot of employers are saying young people don't have
those skills. And I think one of the things that we've done to try
and help accelerate that skill development is sometimes maybe

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