We've already started a program. We've already been to Detroit to start with the states that are close to the border. Most of the requirements for our trades are Red Seal requirements. So we've gone down there to have a “train the trainer.” We have thousands of individuals who are pipefitters, welders—basically the same skills that we have here in Canada—but they can't get across the border.
With the outages coming up in the spring in Alberta, they're talking about needed 10,000 or 12,000 tradespeople. They have the perfect storm coming where all the refineries want to do their shutdowns. So there's going to be a problem if we can't man it up.
The apprentice situation is one problem. But that's something we'd like work on with our partners, both federal and provincial. We want to put in place a more streamlined process to help get them across the border so they can come here and work. They have a lot of the same qualifications, but they may not have the piece of paper. It's quite easy to get them here and to transport them back home again. I think it would be a good solution to a lot of our short-term needs. For the long term, we need the stimulus to get young people into the trades. It's hard to get young people in today because there's a shortage of job opportunities. But in my trade, we turn away many highly qualified people because there aren't enough job opportunities.
There may be a few trades where there is a shortage, but our organization is 20% to 25% apprentices. Over the last five years, we've tried to up the numbers. I can only speak for my trade, but we see the shortage, and we're trying to work with everybody to make sure we get there.