There are organizations, such as Toronto Community Benefits Network, that encourage women to join skilled trades. There are unions, such as LIUNA Local 183, which has a huge training centre where women are given the chance to be trained as skilled trade workers. Not only that, but we spoke to the union, LIUNA Local 183, about how women who come into shelters can be trained while school-going children are sent to school. Right after they're sent to school, the mothers can take the shuttle bus, go to the training centre and get the basic construction or craftsmanship training. It could be a couple of months. If the cost is $400, for example, they are willing to waive that cost so the women can get the training. Maybe the economy is down right now, but as soon as it picks up, the demand for the construction work will become heavy.
During the COVID time and after, we continued to hear that there was a lack of carpenters, welders and lots of the skilled trades. If the women are ready and trained, they can be taken into apprenticeship immediately. They get paid. They get benefits.
The best and easiest way to empower women after they have experienced violence is to get them into employment so that they can start earning income. That starts the dream of owning a home. It starts the dream of owning a car. It starts the dream of looking after their children, giving them a better education and building their career. It's a long-term goal, but it works. Once the government focuses on building the skills of the women who are breaking away from violence, then the empowerment starts.