Government responds to "misinformation," says quality of training and safety won't be compromised
Shirley Bond is British Columbia's Minister of Advanced Education. This is an editorial she wrote.
Over the past year, a great deal of attention — both media and otherwise — has been devoted to Canada and British Columbia’s impending skills crisis. We are faced with a critical shortage of skilled workers brought on, in large part, by an aging employee population and it has become increasingly clear that if we are to continue to prosper as a province, we need to explore new ways of producing the skilled workers B.C. employers want and need.
With more than 16,000 apprentices in British Columbia and thousands more students enrolled in entry-level trades training at public post-secondary institutions, the creation of a new system is a complex and time-consuming task. As a government, we need to ensure a new model is both flexible and responsive, that it meets the needs of students and employers and, ultimately, it helps position our province and its people at the forefront of the new economy.
Over the past months, staff at my ministry — together with our stakeholder groups — have been working hard to create a new structure for B.C.’s industry training system. This new model has now taken the form of a discussion paper.
The proposed system will be better aligned to match employment opportunities because it will be better able to respond to shifts in the job market, in turn creating more opportunities for workers and students. In addition, modular training and competency-based credentials will reflect the actual skills, knowledge and abilities of participants.
A system that offers more choice, flexibility and opportunity for all parties is the right direction for British Columbians. It is important that we receive feedback from the system’s primary users and training providers. Consultations taking place in communities throughout the province will help solidify this new structure and allow us to begin putting a new system in place this spring. We have been meeting with employers, trainees, educators, labour and industry — who have first-hand knowledge of the system — to create a more responsive training system that will carry British Columbia into the future.
A copy of the proposal has been posted to the Ministry of Advanced Education Web site at www.aved.gov.bc.ca, and feedback is invited during the consultation period, which ends Feb. 15.
In addition to the consultation process, we have chosen 16 pilot projects that will test practical applications for new approaches to industry training. Again, this will help us to develop a new training system that will not only meet industry needs but encourage people to choose the trades as a career path.
A lot of misinformation has been spread by some people who are not fully informed and by others who are opposed to any change in the system. I want to make it clear that whatever system we develop, quality of training will not be compromised. Enforcement of safety standards and consumer protection in compulsory certification trades will be maintained.
We are not going to dilute the trades. In fact, current standards will be maintained, including the national Red Seal standards. We are also proposing, where it makes sense through industry direction, to expand the number of credentials available to workers.
We also want to assure apprentices who are currently in the system that their training will not be interrupted. My ministry is working on options to ensure that college-based training and examination services are maintained and available regionally through the transition period. For example, trainees may be able to attend classroom-based training at a college closer to their workplace.
Other interim measures, such as a toll-free information line, will be in place to ensure apprentices and anybody else who has questions concerning industry training receive assistance during the transition period. That information will be made available to the public in the coming weeks.
As minister responsible for industry training in this province and as an advocate of skilled trades as a vital, rewarding career choice for young people, I am committed to creating a progressive system that will bring industry training in B.C. into the 21st century. I look forward to continuing to work with the people of British Columbia to do just that.
For more information on what B.C. is doing, click on the "Related articles" link below or check out page one of the Jan. 27, 2003 print edition of Canadian HR Reporter.
Over the past year, a great deal of attention — both media and otherwise — has been devoted to Canada and British Columbia’s impending skills crisis. We are faced with a critical shortage of skilled workers brought on, in large part, by an aging employee population and it has become increasingly clear that if we are to continue to prosper as a province, we need to explore new ways of producing the skilled workers B.C. employers want and need.
With more than 16,000 apprentices in British Columbia and thousands more students enrolled in entry-level trades training at public post-secondary institutions, the creation of a new system is a complex and time-consuming task. As a government, we need to ensure a new model is both flexible and responsive, that it meets the needs of students and employers and, ultimately, it helps position our province and its people at the forefront of the new economy.
Over the past months, staff at my ministry — together with our stakeholder groups — have been working hard to create a new structure for B.C.’s industry training system. This new model has now taken the form of a discussion paper.
The proposed system will be better aligned to match employment opportunities because it will be better able to respond to shifts in the job market, in turn creating more opportunities for workers and students. In addition, modular training and competency-based credentials will reflect the actual skills, knowledge and abilities of participants.
A system that offers more choice, flexibility and opportunity for all parties is the right direction for British Columbians. It is important that we receive feedback from the system’s primary users and training providers. Consultations taking place in communities throughout the province will help solidify this new structure and allow us to begin putting a new system in place this spring. We have been meeting with employers, trainees, educators, labour and industry — who have first-hand knowledge of the system — to create a more responsive training system that will carry British Columbia into the future.
A copy of the proposal has been posted to the Ministry of Advanced Education Web site at www.aved.gov.bc.ca, and feedback is invited during the consultation period, which ends Feb. 15.
In addition to the consultation process, we have chosen 16 pilot projects that will test practical applications for new approaches to industry training. Again, this will help us to develop a new training system that will not only meet industry needs but encourage people to choose the trades as a career path.
A lot of misinformation has been spread by some people who are not fully informed and by others who are opposed to any change in the system. I want to make it clear that whatever system we develop, quality of training will not be compromised. Enforcement of safety standards and consumer protection in compulsory certification trades will be maintained.
We are not going to dilute the trades. In fact, current standards will be maintained, including the national Red Seal standards. We are also proposing, where it makes sense through industry direction, to expand the number of credentials available to workers.
We also want to assure apprentices who are currently in the system that their training will not be interrupted. My ministry is working on options to ensure that college-based training and examination services are maintained and available regionally through the transition period. For example, trainees may be able to attend classroom-based training at a college closer to their workplace.
Other interim measures, such as a toll-free information line, will be in place to ensure apprentices and anybody else who has questions concerning industry training receive assistance during the transition period. That information will be made available to the public in the coming weeks.
As minister responsible for industry training in this province and as an advocate of skilled trades as a vital, rewarding career choice for young people, I am committed to creating a progressive system that will bring industry training in B.C. into the 21st century. I look forward to continuing to work with the people of British Columbia to do just that.
For more information on what B.C. is doing, click on the "Related articles" link below or check out page one of the Jan. 27, 2003 print edition of Canadian HR Reporter.
