The provincial minister of labour, training and skills development wants to know how government can make the apprenticeship system easier.
Monte McNaughton says it’s part of the ministry’s efforts to address the shortage of skilled workers due to aging and retiring journeypersons.
“I think we’ve had a mentality in Ontario for many decades that you had to have a university-first approach to education,” McNaughton said in an interview with CBC Sudbury.
“We know that university isn’t for everyone. We want people to know that they can be proud of a job in the skilled trades. These are lucrative and exciting careers.”
He says changes made by the Ford government are already having a positive impact on the construction industry.
For example, since the province lowered the journeyperson to apprentice ration, there has been a 12 per cent increase in apprenticeship registrations for construction trades.
Now McNaughton wants to hear from business owners, apprentices, industry experts and others as he looks for ways to simplify the apprenticeship system which he said is “complex, convoluted and confusing.”
Earlier this month, the ministry launched a marketing campaign meant to attract more young people to a career in the skilled trades.
McNaughton says he wants to encourage businesses to “step up” by providing opportunities for apprentices.
The dates and times for McNaughton’s province-wide tour are still being determined, however he will be in North Bay on Feb. 3.