Ontario Construction News staff writer
The Province of Alberta government is proposing an update for apprenticeship education and skilled trades training that would result in a more flexible system that addressess challenges today and into the future.
If approved, the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act will replace the Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Act introduced in 1991. The government says the old Act no longer meets the needs of industry, employers, apprentices or post-secondary institutions.
“This new act serves as a fresh start for skilled trades and apprenticeship education in our province. It lays the foundation for a flexible system, allowing us to respond to needs and trends among our workforce, and will promote the equal value of apprenticeship education with other forms of post-secondary education,” said Demetrios Nicolaides, minister of advanced education.
Changes will enable Alberta to expand apprenticeship education to other professions and high-demand occupations and modernize how skilled trades professions are governed. The changes will also serve as a foundation to ensure adequate funding for education and training programs.
The act also aligns with the goals of Alberta 2030 – Building Skills for Jobs strategy, which will build a common vision and direction for post-secondary education in the province.
According to BuildForce Canada projections, Alberta’s construction and maintenance industry will need to hire almost 65,000 workers over the coming decade to meet growth expectations and replace an estimated 41,500 workers expected to retire.
In contrast, Alberta has seen its registered apprentice numbers drop from more than 70,000 to about 45,000 over six years, a decrease of more than 35 per cent, mostly in relation to Alberta’s prolonged economic downturn.