Professional Development/Skills Training

May 16, 2012

Where does labour law stand on ladder safety?

The Ontario Ministry of Labour recently issued a new position paper on the use of ladders in construction, and workplace safety experts warn employers need to train their workers and assess their sites for risk.

May 14, 2012

Stakeholders react to Ontario College of Trades proposed membership fees

The Ontario College of Trades is seeking feedback from the province’s trades community about membership fees but many are opposing the fees. The president of Merit Ontario called the membership fees taxation without representation.

May 3, 2012

Manitoba government increases apprenticeship tax credits

The Manitoba government announced its Rural and Northern Apprenticeship Training Strategy, which increases the tax credits available to companies that hire apprentices and journeypersons. It is also contributing to mobile training labs operated by Red River College and offering online courses for prospective plumbers, carpenters and refrigeration and air-conditioning mechanics.

April 18, 2012

LeBer ready to lead London and District Construction Association as new president

James LeBer, a lawyer with Advocates LLP, is the new president of the London and District Construction Association (LDCA).

April 9, 2012

Ontario government to review Apprenticeship Training Tax Credit

Apprentices are key to building a competitive economy in Ontario, but about 50 per cent never complete their training. Measures to raise this number were announced this afternoon in the 2012 Ontario budget.

March 28, 2012

Ontario budget reduces program spending by $17.7 billion, preserves infrastructure plan

Infrastructure funding was spared as health care and education funding were of the highest priority in the 2012 provincial budget announced today.

March 23, 2012

Work begins on London, Ontario Carpenters’ union training centre

Work is underway on a new 25,000-square-foot training centre for the United Brotherhood of Carpenters Local 1946 in London, Ontario. Architect McMichael Ruth of Tillmann Ruth Robinson gives some details.

March 13, 2012

Bathurst francophone college gets skilled trades workshop

The New Brunswick department of Post Secondary Education, Training and Labour has announced that the French language College communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) has opened a training facility for its electricity, plumbing and pipefitting programs in Bathurst,N.B.

February 21, 2012

Drummond report suggests expanded role for Ontario College of Trades

A greater administrative role for the Ontario College of Trades is among the employment and training services recommendations from the Commission on the Reform of Ontario’s Public Services.

February 17, 2012

McMaster U civil engineering professor Razavi involves industry in academia

Saiedeh Razavi, the Chair in Heavy Civil Construction at Hamilton, Ontario-based McMaster University, says industry involvement is an integral part of educating the future of heavy civil construction. Her position is a product of a fundraising campaign where 13 associations, including Ontario Road Builders’ Association. Her background includes sensing, automation, information and communication technology for construction, infrastructure management, transportation and logistics.

June 26, 2009

Toronto students sticking with CHOICE pre-apprenticeship program

Not many pre-apprenticeship courses can claim as high a retention rate as the CHOICE Pre-apprenticeship Program for Youths at Risk can. In its fifth year, the unique Toronto-based program offers its students a chance to learn carpentry skills on the job at social housing properties operated by Toronto Community Housing Corporation.

June 26, 2009

Conestoga College to get roofing, heating training facilities

Conestoga’s College is busy adding to its Construction Centre of Excellence campus in Waterloo with a roofing training centre set to open its doors this September and an HVAC training facility to follow a year later.