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MEDIA RELEASE FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Trades Completion Measures Receive National Support September 29, 2014 – Victoria, BC – Trades apprenticeship completion rates need to be improved to address skilled trades shortages. The Greater Victoria Chamber received national support for its policy aimed at solving this issue. The Chamber’s policy titled Increase Apprenticeship completion in the Skilled Trades calls for incentives to employers who retain apprentices at any level of training. The goal of this policy is to increase the number of certified trades workers by increasing completions rates, which are presently at an abysmal 50 per cent nationally. Currently, incentives are only offered to employers that employ first-and second-year apprentices. “Labour supply and retention continues to be an important issue for many businesses in our region as well as around the province,” said Bruce Carter, CEO of The Chamber. “With employers receiving the same incentive regardless of the apprenticeship level they are training, we hope that more and more apprentices will be able to become certified trades people. Increasing completion rates is imperative to filling our skills gap in the trades and also has a positive effect on individual workers’ incomes.” The Chamber celebrated this policy win at the Canadian Chamber AGM held in Charlottetown, PEI this past weekend. The policies presented address issues that are of significant importance to the business community and were endorsed by over 300 chamber delegates from across Canada as national policy. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, with over 1,500 members, is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region and has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce. -30- Additional information: Increase Apprenticeship Completion in the Skilled Trades For more information contact: Janet Crocker Policy and Communications Manager Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Email: jcrocker@victoriachamber.ca Phone: (250) 360-3476 Bruce Carter CEO Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce Email:: bcarter@victoriachamber.ca Phone: (250)360-3470
MEDIA RELEASE
September 29, 2014 – Victoria, BC – Trades apprenticeship completion rates need to be improved to address skilled trades shortages. The Greater Victoria Chamber received national support for its policy aimed at solving this issue. The Chamber’s policy titled Increase Apprenticeship completion in the Skilled Trades calls for incentives to employers who retain apprentices at any level of training. The goal of this policy is to increase the number of certified trades workers by increasing completions rates, which are presently at an abysmal 50 per cent nationally. Currently, incentives are only offered to employers that employ first-and second-year apprentices. “Labour supply and retention continues to be an important issue for many businesses in our region as well as around the province,” said Bruce Carter, CEO of The Chamber. “With employers receiving the same incentive regardless of the apprenticeship level they are training, we hope that more and more apprentices will be able to become certified trades people. Increasing completion rates is imperative to filling our skills gap in the trades and also has a positive effect on individual workers’ incomes.” The Chamber celebrated this policy win at the Canadian Chamber AGM held in Charlottetown, PEI this past weekend. The policies presented address issues that are of significant importance to the business community and were endorsed by over 300 chamber delegates from across Canada as national policy. The Greater Victoria Chamber of Commerce, with over 1,500 members, is the voice of business for the Greater Victoria region and has received Accreditation with Distinction from the Canadian Chamber of Commerce.
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