(Canadian Press)

By Justin Goulet

Province looks to broader apprenticeship and skilled trades opportunities in Alberta

Apr 13, 2021 | 3:20 PM

EDMONTON, AB – The provincial government may soon revamp apprenticeship education.

The Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act (Bill 67) was introduced in the legislature Tuesday.

If it passes, the bill would replace the Apprenticeship and Industry Training (AIT) Act.

The AIT was first introduced in 1991 and according to the Alberta Government, it no longer meets the needs of industry, employers, apprentices or post-secondary institutions.

Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides said that, “This new act serves as a fresh start for skilled trades and apprenticeship education in our province.”

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“It lays the foundation for a flexible system, allowing us to respond to needs and trends among our workforce, and will promote the equal value of apprenticeship education with other forms of post-secondary education.”

Bill 67 will allow the province to expand apprenticeship education to other professions and high-demand occupations, as well as modernize how skilled trades professions are governed.

The proposed legislation implements recommendations from the Skills for Jobs Task Force and will update the legal framework for apprenticeship education and regulated trade professions.

David Ross, president and CEO, SAIT and co-chair, Skills for Jobs Task Force, said, “We are pleased the government is implementing recommendations put forward by the Skills for Jobs Task Force.”

“Importantly, this new legislation elevates the value of an applied education and the careers and opportunities available within skilled trades. It will also provide the means to accelerate the talent growth of our learners to create a skilled workforce vital to the prosperity of our province.”

According to projections from BuildForce Canada, Alberta’s construction and maintenance industry will need to hire almost 65,000 workers over the next 10 years to meet growth expectations and replace an estimated 41,500 workers expected to retire.

Over six years, Alberta has seen its registered apprentice numbers dip from more than 70,000 to about 45,000.

In 2020, approximately 7,820 new apprentices were registered, which is a decrease from the 11,627 new apprentices who began their program in 2019.

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