Mr. Speaker, I am rising today to recognize the incredible work of members of the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers and to echo two of their calls to action.
I met with IBEW Local 230, which opposes the government's decision to end apprenticeship incentive and completion grants. The grants are set to expire in March, while apprentices across the country are facing rising costs. Without this support, housing and infrastructure projects could face delays, as these workers do vital work across Canada. The IBEW is also urging the federal government to increase all student bursaries, which have remained stagnant for almost 25 years.
Apprentices are the lowest-paid blue-collar workers, yet their overall value and impact on the Canadian economy are monumental. To secure Canada's future skilled labour force, we must remove barriers and invest in workers today.