Murray Wood: Who's hot and who's not
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The Government of Saskatchewan is investing in the future of skilled trades.
On Monday, the provincial government announced that it will spend $560,000 to help bolster union-led construction electrician apprenticeship training. The funds will also help enhance the government’s efforts to grow Saskatchewan’s skilled trades labour force as part of an effort to support the province’s energy security, the government added.
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“Qualified tradespeople are key to sustaining the integrity and reliability of our power grid while Saskatchewan expands its infrastructure and power generation options to meet the needs of our strong and growing economy,” Jeremy Harrison, the minister responsible for Saskatchewan’s Crown Investments Corporation, said in a statement.
The Government of Saskatchewan signed agreements with the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) in September, promising to expand apprenticeship training for construction electricians and powerline technicians. The partnership will allow more Saskatchewan tradespeople, both IBEW members and non-members, to access the training, the provincial government said.
“The province requires a significant number of qualified tradespeople to support future projects including power station refurbishment to align with the decision to extend the life of coal assets in Saskatchewan,” the government noted in a statement.
“The MOU also provides support for future training opportunities, such as those in nuclear power generation.”
The funding announced on Monday will allow the union to purchase equipment for its training program, which is expected to begin in Regina this fall. Work is also underway to offer the same program in Saskatoon, the province noted.
“We are proud to take on the responsibility of delivering apprenticeship training for electrician apprentices in Saskatchewan,” said Christopher Unser, IBEW Local 2038’s business manager, quoted in the government’s statement.
“By building a strong foundation in safety, efficiency, and best practices, we are committed to making Saskatchewan a safer, more prosperous place to work for all electricians.”
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