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Dwight Ball: Darin King:
Apprenticeship training programs play a key role in preparing NL leads the way when it comes to the number of women in the
Newfoundlanders and Laboradorians, and all Canadians, for a skilled trades. You’re the “model” province. You’ve had many major
career in the skilled trades. Through this training, tradespeople projects in the province and, none were able to rival Hebron in
acquire the skills to support industries that drive the provincial terms of the provisions and commitments around diversity and
and national economies. inclusion. There will be undoubtedly be more projects in the future.
Would you government be willing to look at creating a dedicated
There is a significant relationship between the progress and
diversity and inclusion team for future projects … a sort of “best
success of an apprentice and labour market conditions. Our
practices” expert group?
continued work with unions and information from labour market
reviews help us in realizing the jobs of the future as we provide Dwight Ball:
necessary resources, leadership, direction and support through Our government is interested in sharing best practices with respect
the development of clear policies and priorities to the College of to diversity and inclusion commitments. Large scale projects such
the North Atlantic and Memorial University. as Hebron, provided Newfoundland and Labrador an opportunity
to develop benefit agreements to ensure a minimum number of
The completion of large scale development projects has impacted
skilled trades workers were hired. This included requirements for
some Newfoundland and Labrador apprentices’ ability to progress
hiring female apprentices and journeypersons.
to journeyperson certification. However, participation levels remain
high and apprentices and employers continue to be engaged and As part of our plan, The Way Forward, our government committed
remain positive about current apprenticeship initiatives underway to supporting and advancing the economic and social security of
provincially and nationally. women and girls. Recent large scale projects in our province, like
the new hospital being built in Corner Brook, includes women’s
Our government has a number of initiatives to attract, train and
employment commitments. We put a directive in place to develop
retain people in the skills trades. We are fully funding tuition for
a plan that will assist with hiring tradeswomen to work on the
apprentices for their block training and other required supports for
construction site.
in-school level training; we have a provision of the Apprenticeship
Wage Subsidy program allowing for a 75 per cent wage subsidy, Programs funded by our government, such as the Office to
to a maximum of $14/hour; we are increasing contact with Advance Women Apprentices has also provided support in
employers to ensure programs are reflective of labour market promoting equality in hiring practices for skilled trades occupations
needs; increasing availability of more flexible delivery models such on large scale projects. As this program proved to be so
as online training; assessing labour market forecasts to prepare successful in our province, the federal government has funded its
for the future demand of skilled tradespeople; we are enhancing expansion to five other provinces.
mobility and reducing barriers through Atlantic and National
The four Atlantic Provinces will be commencing a project in the fall
harmonization efforts; and promoting the federal Apprenticeship
to research and develop programs to address unconscious biases
Incentive Grant, Apprenticeship Completion Grant and the
in the workplace and to offer support programs for managers
Apprenticeship Incentive Grant for Women.
responsible for overseeing the work of female skilled trades
workers.

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