Debates of May 30th, 2013

Employment

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I appreciate the parliamentary secretary staying around, given the late hour. I will try to be concise. This is an area of interest to her in her role as parliamentary secretary.

This is a follow-up from a question I put to the minister on April 16. My question related to the hiring of temporary foreign workers and issues raised by those who work in the skilled trades and the concerns of the trades and construction workers that the government needed a wake-up call. They had stated to me that the real barrier to skilled workers is a lack of paid apprenticeships. The Canadian Apprenticeship Forum had reported that fewer than 50% of employers were hiring skilled workers and enabling them to take part in apprenticeships.

I put that question to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and found the answer a little unsatisfactory. Indeed, she reiterated some of the programs the government had offered in previous years, starting back in 2006, yet we continue to not have sufficient numbers of apprenticeships provided.

I followed up with the skilled trades and construction workers associations, the Alberta Federation of Labour and other organizations. They have continued to raise concerns with me that the federal government is not taking enough action to facilitate apprenticeships. Why is that important? It is important that our workers get their ticket so that they can be paid according to their skill level. The problem has been that a lot of major employers prefer to bring in skilled temporary foreign workers, because they do not want to slow down their work and spend the resources and so forth to provide apprenticeships to Canadian workers.

I was assured today that the federal government is holding some discussions with the Building Trades Association, and it is encouraged that the federal government might be moving forward in pursuing some kind of support or activity to enable apprenticeships, but here is the problem.

I should first point out that the federal government is the largest purchaser of construction activity in Canada. Therefore, it could be a real model for other employers that it is useful to invest in apprenticeships or could encourage or direct that there be apprenticeships. Human Resources and Skills Development Canada has met with the building trades and has proposed three options, only one of which is amenable to the building trades.

First is to simply educate the contractors. It would be a good idea if they had a certain percentage of apprenticeships.

Second, the government is suggesting that corporate bidders might want to offer apprenticeships.

The third option is the one the building trades clearly want, and that is that the government require all bidders on federal construction jobs to require a specified percentage of apprenticeship positions and that they report on that work.

Very clearly, there is one option the government could pursue. It would set an example for other employers in Canada and provide good opportunities for Canadian workers.

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and to the Minister of Labour]

Mr. Speaker, the government is taking a balanced approach with respect to making sure that apprentices have the opportunities to be trained. Our reforms are focused on employers working hard to provide available jobs and making sure that Canadians are cognizant of what is available to them.

With respect to our most recent budget, to be clear, there are a number of items the federal government has proposed in economic action plan 2013 with regard to skilled trades across the country and making sure that apprentices, in particular, have opportunities.

The centrepiece of the budget is the Canada job grant. In conjunction with employers and the provinces, we will be contributing to the skills training of unemployed or underemployed individuals to fill vacant jobs. This will move skills training from government programs into the hands of job creators.

Because we are aware that practical work experience is just as important as education and training, the second phase of this plan involves the creation of additional job opportunities for companies.

We have apprenticeship programs that are already working well. With our track record in supporting them for up to $4,000 through the apprenticeship incentives grant and the apprenticeship completion grant, tradespeople across the country have opportunities.

With respect to economic action plan 2013, there are three major initiatives that focus on the skilled trades. The first, which I have mentioned already, is the Canada job grant. The second, though, is our commitment in federal contracts, particularly those associated with affordable housing on maintenance, as well as new contracts, to have apprentices on job sites to make sure they can acquire the number of hours they need to move forward and become journeypersons.

We have also made a commitment to look at practical testing to make sure young apprentices can be assessed and move forward and also to help in their mobility from province to province. The member opposite may have heard from her colleagues that the Standing Committee on Human Resources, Skills and Social Development and the Status of Persons with Disabilities heard significant concerns with regard to the mobility of young apprentices across the country, province to province, and the effort to decrease the interprovincial barriers. We will be working closely with the provinces in an effort to facilitate the movement of labour across the country.

Finally, we are focused on making sure the youth of tomorrow know what jobs are available, particularly that jobs in skilled trades are available to them and that they are excellent opportunities to have a great qualify of life. We are investing $19 million to make sure both employers and students are well educated in what opportunities are available to them across the country.

[Linda Duncan, NDP, Edmonton Strathcona, AB]

Mr. Speaker, I would like to thank the parliamentary secretary for the information she has provided. Unfortunately, she has not really answered the question of what specific mechanism the government will use to ensure people have greater access to apprenticeships where there are federal contracts. I think I can say on behalf of the building trades that they would prefer the third option, that it actually becomes a requirement for all bidding on federal contracts, including housing. They look forward to getting clarification from the government that it is actually going to start imposing that mandatory requirement.

In follow-up to the discussion about the jobs that have been controversial and about advertising a program that does not exist yet, they are pleased that there is some consultation with appropriate partners, but there is still nothing with the provinces and territories.

The specific question is this. If and when this program actually arrives and everybody is cost sharing, what trades will be included and in what regions of Canada?

[Kellie Leitch, Conservative, Simcoe—Grey, ON]

Mr. Speaker, as we all know, Canada is facing a significant skills gap. That is why, in our effort to create jobs, growth and long-term prosperity, we must match training to the skills that employers are actually looking for. The Canada job grant is doing just that. The intent is to move training from government into the hands of employers, the people who know what jobs are in demand and available, and out of the hands of government.

The red seal trades in particular offer the opportunity for well-paid careers in areas that are in high demand.

Through grants, tax credits and support for training programs, we are encouraging apprenticeships and careers in the skilled trades across the country.

I look forward to support from members opposite for our focus in economic action plan 2013 to facilitate skilled trades.

[The Acting Speaker, Conservative, Barry Devolin]

Pursuant to an order made on Wednesday, May, 22, 2013, the motion to adjourn the House is now deemed to have been adopted. Accordingly, this House stands adjourned until later this day at 10 a.m., pursuant to Standing Order 24(1).

(The House adjourned at 12:54 a.m.)