Trudeau promotes the trades

“By promoting in‑demand careers in the trades, we can help more young people find good, well-paying jobs and build a stronger economy for the benefit of all Canadians,” said Prime Minister Justin Trudeau recently in announcing a committee to explore new ways to promote the trades across a number of industries. He added: “There can be challenges for certain people to get into trades, particularly minority groups, or women, or marginalized communities. That’s why talking about how important trades are is important . . . for everyone.”

The committee is made up of three persons:

• 

  Committee member Mandy Rennehan

  Mandy Rennehan, Founder and CEO of Freshco

• Jamie McMillan, Ironworker and Founder of KickAss Careers
• Matt Wayland, Executive Assistant to the International Vice-President and Canadian Director of Government Relations for the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers

The advisory committee will lay the groundwork for a national campaign to encourage apprenticeships and promote the skilled trades as a career of choice. They will lead consultations, explore partnerships, and provide advice to the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour.

Budget 2019, the pre-election budget of the Liberals Party, has $6 million set aside for a national campaign to promote trades to youth.

For more on the Government of Canada’s investment in skilled trades, go here.