Thank you.
Good evening, Mr. Chair and committee members.
I would like to begin by acknowledging that I'm joining you today from the traditional unceded territory of the Algonquin Anishinabe people.
I'm Melanie Vanstone, director general of multimodal and road safety programs at Transport Canada. Thank you for having me here today to share Transport Canada's perspectives on the acute labour and skills shortages facing the transportation sector, including in occupations such as truckers, mariners, pilots and rail workers.
A robust, diverse and future skilled transportation workforce is an enabler of Canada's economic recovery and an efficient supply chain, while also supporting the safety and security of our transportation system. The transportation labour force supports the movement of goods and people for transportation-reliant sectors, including manufacturing, natural resources and agriculture across the country.
As other witnesses have expressed to this committee, there are a number of structural pressures that are contributing to labour and skill shortages in transportation. These include the high cost of education and training for some professions. It can cost up to $90,000 to become a commercial pilot and more than $15,000 to become a truck driver, coupled with low initial pay. Also, there is some lack of awareness of jobs and careers in the industry. As well, changing demographics and a lack of diversity in the industry are barriers. For example, transportation ranks below other regulated sectors in terms of diversity. Finally, in some cases, there's a poor image of the work culture across the industry due to work-life balance challenges, inadequate infrastructure and concerns about the sector's working culture.
Automation and other technologies will continue to change the industry going forward, meaning the nature of jobs in the industry will continue to evolve, emphasizing the need for increasingly advanced skills.
Recognizing the importance of labour to the functioning of the system, Transport Canada has developed a strategy to contribute to addressing labour and skills shortages. The strategy has four pillars, with an emphasis on the recruitment and retention of under-represented groups.
These pillars are, first, developing targeted research data and analysis; second, promoting awareness and outreach; third, addressing the high cost of training and other barriers by leveraging programs across government; and finally, modernizing approaches to regulations so these do not create unnecessary barriers.
The department continues to work closely with other federal departments and agencies, including those represented with me today, industry representatives and other levels of government.
Transport Canada has also been taking some direct actions in many areas.
For example, the marine training program was recently renewed in budget 2022 as part of the government's oceans protection plan to reduce barriers to marine training to under-represented groups in the marine labour force, such as women, northerners, Inuit and indigenous peoples.
The department has negotiated a number of reciprocal agreements to recognized certain foreign-issued certificates for seafarers in Canada. Currently, we have five agreements in place, with an additional three in ongoing negotiation.
TC is leveraging technology to modernize our certification processes and digitize our aviation pilot licensing system to better support the need for the industry to recruit and retain talent.
TC has engaged the Conference Board of Canada to produce a two-phased report to examine the economic impacts of transportation labour shortages on the Canadian economy.
We've also engaged Employment and Social Development Canada in several key programming areas. In particular, the sectoral workforce solutions program will invest $960 million over three years to advance skills and training in seven different key economic sectors, including transportation.
Finally, I would note that in collaboration with the ESDC job bank, Transport Canada launched the transportation job and career pathway website to help promote careers in this sector.
Transport Canada and other departments are reviewing the specific recommendations in the national supply chain task force's final report. This includes those relating to labour and skill shortages. The task force's report will help inform the national supply chain strategy currently under development.
We recognize that continued collaboration is required with our federal partners, provinces and territories and industry to address labour and skill shortages in the transportation sector, including looking at the relevant recommendations from the task force.
Thank you for the time you have allowed us today.
I'd be happy to address any questions you may have relating to Transport Canada's role with labour and skill shortages in the sector.