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Advanced Education and Skills
May 10, 2012

Apprenticeship Forums Build on Challenges and Opportunities

Information gathered from apprenticeship forums held recently at a number of locations across the province will help guide the direction of the apprenticeship system in Newfoundland and Labrador to meet growing labour demands. With representation from employers, union representatives, apprentices, journeypersons, and students, graduates and staff from training institutions, the forums were an example of partnership and cooperation in action.

“The feedback we received from these forums will help us address challenges in the apprenticeship system as we continue to develop and implement training and employment programs to support apprentices in Newfoundland and Labrador and advance them to journeyperson status,” said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills. “Through advancements to the apprenticeship system and interactive events such as these forums, the Provincial Government is helping to ensure labour demands are met so we can take advantage of the unprecedented growth we are experiencing.”

On May 4, using leading-edge interactive technology, a Regional Apprenticeship Forum took place at three locations across the province. Minister Burke opened the forum from Stephenville and was joined by the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minster of Health and Community Services in Grand Falls-Windsor, and in Labrador City by the Honourable Nick McGrath, Minister Responsible for Labrador Affairs. A similar event was hosted on March 14 in St. John’s. In total, nearly 400 individuals took part in these forums, which provided the opportunity for key industry representatives to communicate with each other from locations across the province in order to gain and share perspectives and opinions.

The forums engaged stakeholders in a discussion on how to help the apprenticeship system meet growing labour demands. Through Budget 2012, the Provincial Government is investing $4.1 million in new funding to advance apprenticeship opportunities and support women and other under-represented groups in skilled trades in this province.

These initiatives, based on recommendations from stakeholders, are:

“The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador is listening and what we are hearing is that there is a need for more communication and improved co-ordination between all stakeholders in the skilled trades,” said Minister Burke. “With a forecast that the province will see as many as 70,000 job openings in the next 10 years, we must seize this moment of unprecedented development and educational opportunity in the province and advance apprentices through the system. This is exactly what this government is doing – and what it will continue to do – as we build prosperity for those in the skilled trades and for all people in Newfoundland and Labrador.”

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Media contact:
John Tompkins
Director of Communications
Department of Advanced Education and Skills
709-729-0753, 728-7762
jtompkins@gov.nl.ca 

2012 05 10             10:10 a.m.

 
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