Absolutely. We need to provide opportunities to young people and to Canadians.
I say “young people”, but the average age of apprentices across Canada is approximately 27, which would surprise people. Younger people tend to come to the construction trades after a journey of post-secondary and service sector jobs and they realize there is some decent money to be made in the construction industry. We'd like to get at them younger. We'd like to have them come into our industry at a younger age.
I also think that the mandatory minimums in the investment tax credits are going to drive industry proponents to make sure that contractors, unions and labour providers maximize the apprenticeship opportunities within their own organizations.