Ministerial Statement – Minister Hawkins Recognizes Milestone Meeting of Provincial Apprenticeship and Certification Board

  • Advanced Education, Skills and Labour

March 8, 2018

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour:


Mr. Speaker, earlier today I was pleased to have the opportunity to join a meeting of the Provincial Apprenticeship Certification Board. This meeting marks a significant milestone as it is the board’s 100th meeting.

The board plays an important role in the province’s apprenticeship system. Its mandate includes accrediting institutions to deliver apprenticeship programs, designating occupations for apprenticeship, and providing advice to the Provincial Government on labour market matters related to training and certification.

I am pleased to inform my Honourable colleagues of many new developments underway as we continue to work with the Provincial Apprenticeship Certification Board.

We recently announced online training for apprentices. The first blocks of training for five trades were selected for this pilot initiative, which will enable apprentices to continue their training while working.

We are partnering with the Maritime Provinces and Manitoba on a shared IT system to streamline the steps to completing an apprenticeship program. Work is also continuing on the Atlantic Apprenticeship Harmonization Project, with 10 trades already completed and six more in progress.

Mr. Speaker, we will continue to collaborate with industry and our post-secondary institutions to ensure we are responsive and meeting emerging needs in the province.

I ask my Honourable colleagues to join me in congratulating the members of the Provincial Apprenticeship Certification Board on their 100th meeting and commending them for their important work and contributions.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.

2018 03 08 2:20 pm