The politics of skilled trades: a tale of two countries?

Filed under Canada, Grants, Trades and Culture

This past weekend, Canadian prime minister hopeful Steven Harper (Conservative) announed that graduates of apprenticeship programs will receive a $2000 bonus if he is elected.

Said Harper, “We need carpenters, mechanics, welders, chefs, pipefitters and other skilled workers to build the roads, bridges, schools, hospitals and other infrastructure that keep our economy growing and our country strong.” He was speaking in St. John, NB, at the Carpenters’ Training Centre, a non-profit organization run by the province’s carpenters and joiners union and unionized contractors.

Okay, so it’s an election promise. But does this indicate a difference between two elections? From the US, we’ve only heard one peep about skilled trades and support for trade schools – and that was not even from a presidential candidate. (This is at least as far as we can tell, here at the trade up- feel free to fill us in if we missed something.)

The announcement was met with surprised applause by trainees in the audience. Harper also took the opportunity to opine that the skilled trades shortage was a sign of Canada’s economic strength and that the country was in a stronger position than its neighbours to the south.

Perhaps we agree, and the US is simply overwhelmed by much bigger problems to give any attention to something as ‘inconsequential’ as skilled trades.

“These guys have a job the day they graduate,” said Harper, whose government has previously brought in other incentives, including a $1,000-per-year grant and a $500 deduction for tools – all to help those in the trades.

Just less than 50 ‘Red Seal’ trades, ranging from hairdressers to welders, will qualify for the bonus.

Harper’s campaign co-chair, former premier Bernard Lord, called the promised bonus “very significant” for the New Brunswick economy. Lord added that while the province needs “doctors and nurses, we need plumbers and pipefitters and electricians, too.”

“It’s a great idea,” said one apprentice in the crowd. “Everybody can use a couple extra thousand, especially with the price of tools. We’re not doing this on our own money – most of us have student loans.”

Meanwhile, St. John Liberal MP Paul Zed pointed out that the Liberal party has already unveiled a $600-million program that will offer apprentices a tax credit they will be eligible for during trades training. “The Liberal program is cash in your pocket,” said Zed.

Learn more about hairdressing schools and welding schools Canada.