By Cheryl Jahn

Construction industry gets funds to help employers

Sep 2, 2022 | 1:10 PM

PRINCE GEORGE – The BC Construction Association has received over $21 million in funding from the Government of Canada’s Apprenticeship Service to enable small and medium-sized employers in BC’s construction industry to hire and register first-year apprentices. And the program is different than many others trying to attract people into the trades.

“This program is not targetted to the individual who is entering the trades,” explains Nicole Bryant, CEO of the Northern Regional Construction Association. “It is set up to promote businesses that are hiring new apprentices.”

An employer with fewer than 500 employees in BC’s construction industry can receive financial incentives for hiring new employees or registering existing ones as first-year apprentices in 39 Red Seal Trades. Participating employers will receive $5,000 for hiring or registering any worker. An additional $5,000 will be received if the worker self-reports as a woman, new Canadian, LGBTQ+, Indigenous, a person with a disability, or a visible minority, which contributes to much-needed workforce diversity. Employers can receive payments for up to two first-year apprenticeship positions per year during the two years of the drive, for a maximum of $40,000 per employer. That’s all fine and well, says Al Creuzot of Creuzot Homes

“We’re in a real labour shortage. That’s fine to offer money, but where are we going to get the people?”

Another hurdle with the construction trades. There still exists a mindset that the trades are only for those who can’t cut in academia. Wrong, says Creuzot.

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“I don’t know how else we can get the word out,” he says. “The trades are good. If you’re not into the academics or you don’t want to, there’s nothing wrong with getting to the trades.”

Employers can spend the financial incentives at their discretion. For example: hiring bonuses, gear and work apparel, childcare costs, offsetting business taxes, offsetting costs of mandatory sick leave, training and mentoring, raises for field or office staff, safety equipment, or new technology. As part of the service to employers, BCCA will provide culture training via its Builders Code program, and mentorship support through its new Building Builders initiative.