CERTIFICATION OF PROFESSIONALS AND TRADES (2006)

The Provincial Budget 2006 allocated $400M to training and skills initiatives to address the provincial skills shortage. Many studies, including a collaborative one between The Chamber and Community Futures Development Association, as well as several national studies by HRDC, have clearly indicated that we are heading (if not already in many sectors) for a crisis that will affect business and the provincial economy. Even the ability to construct the necessary infrastructure for the 2010 Olympics is at stake.

The BC government has asked that business and education help by suggesting ways to solve the current issues. The Chamber sees the solution in two lights. First the need to deal with training the young skilled professionals of tomorrow in a way that fulfills market demands and secondly to ensure professional associations are part of the solution by streamlining their certification and upgrade training.

Unfortunately, the problem with associations has not been solved. The Chamber recognizes the need for these independent associations to maintain a high quality of worker and ensure uniform skills through the province and country. The Chamber also recognizes the need to maintain control on the location and numbers of certified professionals to ensure a market is not flooded by workers who, in certain circumstances (Medical Doctors etc) would create surplus in one area and a deficit of skills in another.

Such reasoning is needed in times of surplus exceeding demand. However, when demand exceeds surplus, certification of comparable skills needs to be done in a timely fashion. If an individual is close to being certified, the associations need to ensure the worker has sufficient information as to what skills need to be upgraded. Colleges throughout the province have indicated a willingness to help in not only the testing, but to produce the necessary courses to upgrade certain trades training. Breaking down the barriers to collaboration are key to supporting the development of these individuals as qualified workers.

Chamber members have also expressed their concern regarding the inability of trained apprentices to have their essential skills recognized irrespective of the jurisdiction in which they were trained. There are currently approximately 70 trades in BC for which apprenticeships are available, but only about 45 of those are covered by the “Red Seal” program whereby a Journeyman Certificates is recognized across Canada.


THE CHAMBER RECOMMENDS

That the Provincial Government;

1. ensures professional associations work with local private and public post secondary institutions for skill assessments and necessary upgrades;

2. encourage colleges and school districts to work together and include union input to enhance trades and skills training as a continuum of education;

3. look at a progressive education in which a graduated certification is produced. In this way, workers enter the workforce faster and contribute to the provincial GDP and minimize student loan demands over the course of study and final certification;

4. set funding levels for trades and professional training relevant to demand by location and skills needed in the province;

5. in cooperation with the federal government, establish national standards for all Certifications (Red Seal) which would be valid and recognized throughout Canada; and

6. conduct a review of the trades and professions that need to be regulated