NDP vow to restore 1-1 apprenticeship to supervisor ratio

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The Manitoba NDP would bring back a 1 to 1 apprentice ratio if elected this fall, leader Wab Kinew announced Thursday.

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In 2021, the Manitoba government changed legislation for the required level of supervision for apprentices. Journeypersons of all trades can supervise up to two apprentices.

“The restoration of the one-to-one ratio is a standard that we set at the provincial level, so that when somebody is looking to become a skilled tradesperson, that they’re going to be matched up with a red seal person to give them that training that they need to know-how, the knowledge transfer,” Kinew told reporters.

Kinew said that Manitoba needs to double the amount of tradespeople and committed to increasing apprenticeships.

Kinew also promised to improve health and safety standards at the workplace with more inspections and inspectors. The NDP leader called health and safety a “sacred responsibility” for provincial governments.

The NDP would also ensure there are proper standards at job sites and make sure local benefits are provided for big projects.

“We’ll reverse their cuts to training and apprenticeships and put more Manitobans to work with good jobs in the skilled trades,” Kinew said.

Manitoba construction workers have taken a back seat in recent years, says executive director of Manitoba Building Trades Tanya Palson.

“Instead of helping the trades professionalize and grow, they banned project labour agreements and cut apprenticeship funding,” Palson said.

The NDP’s announcement comes a day after promising not to raise taxes and to come up with a balanced budget within the first four years. The NDP also committed to continuing with the education property tax rebate but would eliminate the use of cheques.

Manitobans head to the polls on Oct. 3 to elect a new provincial government.