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Ontario Erectors Association

News Release – Making It Easier and Faster to Work in the Skilled Trades

News Release

Making It Easier and Faster to Work in the Skilled Trades

Government Appoints Training and Skills Advisors to Consult with Industry and Stakeholders

September 23, 2019 2:15 P.M.

Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities

TORONTO — Ontario is taking steps to make the province open for business and open for jobs by appointing two new training and skills advisors to help make the skilled trades and apprenticeship system more user friendly.

Today, Ross Romano, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities announced that Adam Melnick and Andrew Pariser have been appointed as the new Training and Skills Advisors (TSAs) for a period of two years. They will lead consultations with industry and stakeholders and provide recommendations to the Minister to modernize the skilled trades and apprenticeship system.

“In order to get people the right jobs, we need to make it easy for them to get the right training – training that matches what employers are looking for,” said Romano. “That’s why I am so pleased that we are taking this next step in our modernization of the skilled trades and apprenticeship system. Adam and Andrew will hear directly from people involved in the sector – employers, apprentices, skilled tradespeople, and training providers. With their help, we can make meaningful changes to our current system and make it easier and faster to get people trained, certified, and begin working in the trades.”

“Both Adam and Andrew are industry leaders and proven facilitators who know that jobs in the skilled trades are respected, in-demand and lead to rewarding, life-long careers,” said Romano. “I have every confidence in their abilities to learn from Ontario’s apprentices, employers, training providers, and skilled tradespeople, and to bring forward recommendations that will help us make it more desirable than ever to join the workforce as a skilled tradesperson.”

Quick Facts

  • The Training and Skills Advisors have been appointed to consult on issues related to the skilled trades and apprenticeship system, specifically portable skill sets and risk-based restricted activities.
  • Portable skill sets are a new competency-based system to provide workers and employers with more flexibility and choice to help apprentices get trained and working faster – without compromising health and safety.
  • About one in five new jobs in Ontario over the next five years is expected to be in trades-related occupations.
  • On May 29, 2019, the Ontario government passed the Modernizing the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Act, 2019 which provides the new legislative framework governing Ontario’s skilled trades and apprenticeship system.
  • Job seekers can visit ontario.ca/openforbusiness to get training, build their skills and access career information.

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