Re: 鈥淐runch coming for skilled tradespeople,鈥� column, Feb. 4.
Geoff Johnson鈥檚 excellent column highlighted what is perhaps the worst-kept secret in construction: Skilled trades workers are well-trained, well-paid and, if they belong to a union, well-positioned right into retirement with generous pension plans.
So why is there still a trades shortage?
The past 16 years of sa国际传媒 Liberal rule are one big reason. The Liberals systematically dismantled the apprenticeship system by eliminating compulsory trades and deregulating certification requirements. In 2002, the Liberals slashed training support, increased tuition for apprentices, cut staffing at the provincial training authority and closed regional training offices across the province.
This had a many-fold impact. In addition to declining Red Seal completion rates, the elimination of compulsory trades removed the incentive for employers to move apprentices through the trades training system. Why? Because work that could previously be performed only by a journeyperson or apprentice was open to anyone off the street.
While these changes were welcomed by some organizations, such as the Independent Contractors and Businesses Association, the lower wages that came with the matching decline in skill have contributed to the worker shortage we see today.
The underground economy also contributes to today鈥檚 trades shortage, and it hits you, dear reader, directly in the pocketbook. A 2001 joint-compliance team of representatives from the sa国际传媒 Ministry of Labour, Human Resources Development sa国际传媒 and the sa国际传媒 Customs and Revenue Agency estimated the sa国际传媒 government was losing $44.5 million annually in unpaid taxes, and WorkSafe sa国际传媒 was losing $40.2 million annually in unpaid premiums in the residential-construction industry alone. What would that be worth in 2018 dollars?
The underground economy has other costs, too. Legitimate businesses have a difficult time competing with unscrupulous contractors whose prices don鈥檛 include the requisite payroll deductions and other required taxes. In addition, legitimate apprentices are denied employment opportunities, which doubly undermines the role of the Industry Training Authority to grow the ranks of certified tradespeople. Why hire skilled tradespeople when you can choose cheap day labour or attract all the 鈥渕an with truck鈥� posters on Craigslist?
In the interest of brevity, I won鈥檛 even bother going into the lack of apprenticeship opportunities on provincial and federal infrastructure jobs. In our view, public infrastructure projects that you pay for should benefit your community, which is as easy as instituting hiring provisions for qualified local residents, apprentices, Indigenous Peoples and women in trades. Some rotten food for thought: Only 11 of the 1,681 workers on Site聽C in November were apprentices.
To close, I echo Johnson鈥檚 lament on the high cost of post-secondary education. While a bachelor鈥檚 degree might cost $22,000 or more, not including books and fees, trades students earn while they learn and qualify for employment insurance, up to $4,000 in federal government grants, $2,000 in provincial tax credits and, if they belong to a union, bursaries.
So if you know someone considering a career path, stick this commentary under a magnet on the refrigerator for them. By the way, refrigeration mechanics make $43 an hour, not including benefits, at the end of their apprenticeship, and end up $1,195 ahead with their schooling, thanks to government grants.
Dave Holmes is president of the sa国际传媒 Building Trades Council.