A IS FOR APPRENTICESHIP // TRAINING & EDUCATION
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IS FOR APPRENTICESHIP MODERNIZING ALBERTA’S APPRENTICESHIP SYSTEM FOR A STRONGER WORKFORCE
BY DANYAEL HALPRIN
T
he Germanic system of apprenticeships used throughout much of Europe recognizes 250 to 350 apprentice-based careers that span a broad range of occupations including skilled trades, information technology, business disciplines and various health fields. Alberta recognizes 47. With a passionate commitment to (re)build a robust economy, post-pandemic, the Alberta government approved Bill 67 the Skilled Trades and Apprenticeship Education Act on June 17, 2021 to expand apprenticeship education beyond the traditionally designated skilled trades in the current model.
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SEPTEMBER 2021 // BUSINESS IN CALGARY // BUSINESSINCALGARY.COM
Says Alberta’s Minister of Advanced Education Demetrios Nicolaides: “We must take every possible step to help Albertans reskill and upskill for the new economy.” In the summer of 2019, Nicolaides commissioned the Skills for Jobs Task Force to examine and reimagine the Apprenticeship and Industry Training Act, established in 1991. The 21-member Task Force was co-chaired by former NAIT president Glenn Feltham and SAIT president David Ross and included Deputy Minister of Advance Education Curtis Clarke, Assistant Deputy Minister of Advanced Education Mike Fernandez, a skilled trades caucus, MLAs, etc.
