Human Resources committee  As an organization, we are working very hard to get this done as quickly as possible.

Human Resources committee  Canada has in the range of 200,000 welders. Out of those 200,000, about 1,700 work in the pipelines. When we look at the overall number, it's relatively small in comparison to the size of the entire industry.

Human Resources committee  It's by industries within Canada. If I'm an employer with a job that has a timeline in terms of the delivery of that project, and I'm stuck in a situation where I must get this thing out on time or I'm going to pay penalties, my option is to offer bigger incentives and higher wag

Human Resources committee  That is correct. If you look at the statistics, only 19% of companies train apprentices. That means 81% are either poaching or they would like to get access to those highly skilled tradesmen. Our apprenticeship model in this country has not changed for centuries. A company hire

Human Resources committee  In terms of a skills shortage, companies can find welders. Welders can be trained to a multitude of skills, depending on the industry requirement. Where industry is having difficulty finding skilled labour is in the area of metal fabricators. Those are the guys who know how to us

Human Resources committee  Thank you very much, Mr. Chairman. Thank you all for the opportunity to speak with you today. I serve as the executive director of the Canadian Welding Association, which is a part of the Canadian Welding Bureau, better known as the CWB Group. Since 1947, the CWB has been an

Human Resources committee  When you think of the size of the economy in Ontario, and you look at the issue and the number of people who are becoming journeymen, it is extremely low, and it cuts right across the country. The only exception is Alberta, where welding is mandatory. I've spoken to people in t

Human Resources committee  Are you talking about inadvertent exposure to welding radiation?

Human Resources committee  If you walk into any plant where welding is being done, there is usually some screening protection equipment. It's designed to protect passersby as well as welders, who are protected with proper clothing, for example, leather welding jackets, leather aprons, safety gear, and that

Human Resources committee  Yes, they are. If they have the same skill set, yes.

Human Resources committee  It could be very significant. Many women in welding trades make $50,000, $60,000, $100,000 or more on an annual basis, and when you compare that with what they're able to receive on EI benefits, there is a significantly dramatic drop in pay.

Human Resources committee  As I mentioned earlier, there are various levels of training, of skills.

Human Resources committee  It depends on the job, on the industry sector that you're in, and on the type of work environments you're working in. For example, if you're working inside a plant, you may receive less money than somebody working on a construction project, a cross-country pipeline, or some minin

Human Resources committee  One of the things that we're doing is trying to collect a lot of information from various apprenticeship organizations that run the provincial apprenticeship programs. I can tell you that, with the exception of Quebec and P.E.I., all the provinces have supplied us with enrolment

Human Resources committee  This is really a medical question. I wouldn't have any specific information, other than what's in the CSA W117 safety standards. There's some information there in terms of what the rules and regulations are regarding people who are welding, but it's in general terms and not speci