Advanced Education, Skills and Labour
October 19, 2017

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Al Hawkins, Minister of Al Hawkins:

Minister Hawkins Provides Update on Training Initiatives to Support Apprentices, Journeypersons and Employers

Mr. Speaker, last Friday I joined the Honourable Patty Hajdu, federal Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour to celebrate a significant milestone in our efforts to maintain a highly skilled workforce.

Minister Hajdu and I announced the development of a new $10 million shared IT system that will allow apprentices, journeypersons, training institutions, and employers to simply go online to complete tasks that are currently paper-based and can be time-consuming. This online resource will simplify apprenticeship administration, and aligns with our commitments in The Way Forward and the goals of the Cabinet Committee on Jobs.

In addition, the second phase of the Atlantic Apprenticeship Harmonization Project is moving forward. Ten trades have already been harmonized, and this second phase will add six more – truck and transport mechanic, heavy duty equipment technician, automotive service technician, sprinkler system installer, construction boilermaker, and industrial mechanic (millwright).

I am also pleased to inform my Honourable colleagues that the efforts of the Department of Advanced Education, Skills and Labour to have the project office located here have been successful. This will be the first intergovernmental office of its kind based in Newfoundland and Labrador.

This is a fantastic opportunity for our province as we work with our Atlantic partners and the Federal Government to grow and diversify our economy and make changes that benefit apprentices, journeypersons, training institutions and employers throughout the province.

2017 10 19                              1:45 p.m.