The province is encourage industry leaders to fill out a survey and join the discussion on new mandatory Red Seal certification (Image Credit: CFJC Today)

By Chad Klassen

TRADES CERTIFICATION

More consultation coming as province requires Red Seal certification

Jun 16, 2021 | 4:04 PM

KAMLOOPS — The Parliamentary Secretary for Skills Training says the province is only in the beginning stages of implementing mandatory certification for trades.

Andrew Mercier says the government still plans to consult with more industry leaders over the next two years before implementing changes.

The industry professionals are particularly concerned about how the province decides to roll out the changes and what the journeyman to apprentice ratio will be. They don’t want a 1:1 ratio. Mercier says that has not been decided.

“When it comes to the process of setting ratios, that consultation will be led by the Industry Training Authority and we’re going to sit down with industry and have that conversation,” said Mercier. “There is room for flexibility. We’re not going to pre-judge the outcome. We’re at the beginning of the process.”

According to Mercier, there are 8,100 people in B.C. who are working uncertified, but as early as 2023, the uncertified workers in the initial 10 trades will need to gain the Red Seal designation.

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Universities like TRU will be lean on to upgrade trade skills. Earlier this week, TRU Dean of Trades of Technology Baldev Pooni told CFJC Today the government would need to fund more spaces.

Mercier says the province wants the 73,000 positions needed in the next decade to be filled, but stopped short of committing funding.

“Our utilization rate for trades training seats is just below 90 per cent, so we’ve got some flexibility built in now,” said Mercier. “The analysis we have is with these [10] trades in particular, we have the flexibility now to weather that. But we are also aware and mindful of the fact that there may need to be more capacity added into the system and that will be part of the public engagement.”

The province is encouraging industry leaders to fill out a survey online and register for a roundtable discussion. For more information, click here.