1. A Skilled Workforce
HowBritishColumbiahascontinuedits
momentumasaleaderinskilledtrades
andworkplacesafety.
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SEPTEMBER 2015 UNIONIZEDLABOUR.CA
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2. IN THIS ISSUE
2 UNIONIZEDLABOUR.CA
READ MORE ON UNIONIZEDLABOUR.CA
Workplace Mental
Health
Canadian firefighter
opens up the
conversation on
workplace wellness
and safety. p08
Infrastructure
Investing in
jobs for Canadians.
p06
reer. Later in life, tradespeople often
become mentors, managers, super-
visors, trades instructors and entre-
preneurs. Today’s youth tell the Ca-
nadian Apprenticeship Forum they
are open to a career in the skilled tra-
des. They value hands-on work and
the contribution tradespeople make
to the economy. Parents tell us they
want to find ways to support their
children’s ambitions, seeking gui-
dance about the right high school
courses to take and the job opportu-
nities available to apprentices.
Develop a skill set
One concern parents raise is the per-
ceptionthattradespeoplecan’trelyon
steadywork.Therealityisthatjourney
persons are always working themsel-
vesoutofajob,usingtheirexpertiseto
complete the tasks required to build,
Sarah Watts-Rynard
Executive Director,
Canadian Apprenticeship Forum
BC Safety Authority’s
2015 Lieutenant Governor Safety Awards
Join us as we honour individuals and organizations that have made
an outstanding contribution to the safety of technical systems in BC.
Visit www.safetyauthority.ca/lgawards to find out more.
Order your tickets today!
Monday, November 23, 2015
Keynote Speaker: David Eaves
Publisher: Ryan Shepherd Business Developer: Ian Solnick Account Manager: David Lilleyman Managing Director: Martin Kocandrle Production Manager: Sonja Draskovic Lead Designer: Matthew Senra
Designer: Tea Pajkic Contributors: Ken Donohue, Sandra MacGregor, Duff McCourt, Sarag-Watts Rynard, Benjamin Chacon Cover Photo: BCCA Photo credits: All images are from Getty Images unless otherwise
accredited. Send all inquiries to ca.editorial@mediaplanet.com This section was created by Mediaplanet and did not involve The Province or its Editorial Departments.
Please recycle after readingStay in Touch facebook.com/MediaplanetCA @MediaplanetCA @MediaplanetCA pinterest.com/MediaplanetCA
“The difference
is that very few
apprentices finish
their training with
student debt
and all of them
have practical
experience to serve
as a foundation for
their career.”
operate,maintain and repair.But,it’s
important to remember that trade
skills don’t lose their value when the
job is finished. In fact, these skills are
transferable to other worksites, com-
panies, sectors and regions.Whether
across the street or around the world,
hands-onskillsarealwaysindemand.
Since apprenticeship largely relies
on available jobs,youth should be fo-
cusing on areas of immediate de-
mand,understanding that the natu-
re of the work will open up diverse
opportunities in the course of their
careers. Knock on the doors of a few
employers. Visit a local college or
training centre. Ask tradespeople
about their careers — how they got
started, where they are now and
what it takes to get there too. Once
you choose the trade that’s right for
you,theopportunitiesareendless.
Opportunity
Awaits
Apprenticeships unlock a lifelong
career in the trades.
A
cross Canada, young
people are hearing a
call to put down the
university syllabus
and pick up a trade.As
employers across the country speak
to the difficulty of finding skilled
tradespeople, opportunities for ent-
husiastic youth who want to make
a career in the construction, manu-
facturing, motive power or service
sectorsareontherise.Forthosewho
want an engaging, hands-on career,
thisisanexcellentpathtopursue.
It all starts with an apprenti-
ceship, where young people
learn hands-on and workpla-
ce-specific skills on-the-job.
Roughly 80 percent of their
time is spent working with
a certified journey person
who mentors and teaches
them the skills of the trade.
This is no unpaid internship
— apprentices are paid an increa-
singpercentageofajourneyperson’s
wage as they progress. They return
to school for eight to 12 weeks each
year, learning the theory and practi-
singnewskillsatacollegeorunion
trainingcentre.
Not your typical degree
Like many university degrees,
most apprenticeships last four
years.Thedifferenceisthatveryfew
apprentices finish their training
with student debt and all of them
have practical experience to ser-
ve as a foundation for their ca-
Dirty Jobs
Mike Rowe says the
skilled trades are
endangered.
Online Exclusive
Photo: UA Canada

3. INSIGHT
MEDIAPLANET 3
T
he BC Government
recently announced
welcoming news for
young people want-
ing to get into the
trades. Contractors
andsubcontractorsworkingonpublic
infrastructure projects over $15 mil-
lion are now required to demonstrate
that they are engaged in apprentice-
ship training and use apprentices on
the worksite. There had been calls
fromlabourgroupsforaquotasystem
that would see a quarter of all work-
ersonasiteneedingtobeapprentices,
but this compromise has gained the
supportoftheconstructionindustry.
We support the initiative as it is a
means to drive more employers to hi-
reapprentices,butwedidn’tsupporta
quota system,” says Manley McLach-
lan, President of the BC Construc-
tionAssociation.“It’sareasonableap-
proach.Ifweareinvestingpublicmo-
ney in a project, then builders should
beinvolvedintheapprenticesystem.”
Philip Hochstein, President of the
Independent Contractors and Busi-
nessAssociation,believes that a more
effective way to increase the number
of trainees is not with more govern-
ment policy, but more economic de-
velopmentintheprovince.“Themore
work we have, the more there will be
Government Support
For Apprentices Is
Good For Business
By Ken Donohue
jobs and training positions,” he says.
“Apprenticesgetonthejobtraining,so
if there are no jobs,there are no train-
ingopportunities.”
According to McLachlan, statistics
from across the country show that
just 30 percent of companieswere hi-
ring80percentoftheapprentices.Gi-
venthisimbalance,it’shopedthatgo-
vernment policywill encourage more
companiestosupporttheapprentice-
shipprogram.
This is the sentiment that Gary
Herman, CEO of the Industry Train-
ing Authority is hearing from indu-
stry colleagues.“This is a great initia-
tive,andwe aren’t hearing any grum-
bling,”hesays.Infact,businessesthat
have been investing in and training
apprenticesareapplaudingthismove,
because it levels the playing field and
encourages other companies to take
onapprentices.”
The issue of have enough skilled
workers is expected to become even
more acute over the next decadewith
morejobopenings,throughincreased
economic development and retire-
ments.Businesshasaresponsibilityto
trainpeople,andtheyneedtocapture
theskillsofexperiencedworkersbefo-
retheyretire,”saysHerman.
Photo: UA Canada
Secure your future workforce.
Find an apprentice now.
workbc.ca/trades
TOSUCCESS.

4. INSIGHT
4 UNIONIZEDLABOUR.CA
Fueling The Provincial Economy
T
housands of me-
ters below the
earth’s surface,
in the north-
eastern section
of British Col-
umbia lies one
of the world’s biggest shale plays,
containing an estimated 449 tril-
lion cubic feet of natural gas.
Efforts to tap into this tremen-
dous resource have, so far, been pla-
gued by regulatory delays and cost
uncertainties. However,with recent
approval from B.C.’s legislature,new
life has been breathed into the en-
deavor. We are significantly closer
to seeing the construction of major
liquefied natural gas (LNG) projects
become a reality within the next
five years. The significance? British
Columbia could very well be on the
cuspofaneconomicboom.
Economic growth
The size of this boom can only be es-
timated at the moment, however
data indicates that a scenario with
fiveLNGfacilitiesconstructedinB.C.
between2015and2024couldcreatea
total industry investment of $175 bil-
lionfortheprovince.
“This is a once in a lifetime opp-
ortunity for British Columbia,” says
Joe Shayler, Business Manager for
the United Association of Plumbers
and Pipefitters, Local 170, B.C. “We
can offer apprenticeships and the
applicable in-school technical train-
ing to our youth in British Columbia
to work on these construction pro-
jects, the end result being a resource
of qualified journeypersons to repla-
ce our aging workforce as they reti-
re. It is our vision that these projects
will benefit First Nations, local com-
munities in northern B.C., B.C. resi-
dents,the B.C.economy and Canada
asawhole.”
Long-term employment
According to the provincial gov-
ernment, development of the LNG
industry could generate as many
as 100,000 jobs in B.C.—both dur-
ing the construction and operation
phase of an estimated five LNG fa-
cilities. Once completed, there will
be full-time operational staff re-
quired to maintain and operate
these LNG facilities, fueling em-
ployment growth in the public and
private sectorswithin the northern
communities of B.C. and through-
out the province.
“For those people who live in the
communitieswhere these LNG pro-
jects have been built, and who ha-
ve earned trade qualifications in
their chosen trade during the con-
struction of these LNG facilities,
there will be opportunities to app-
ly for full-time jobs in the facilities
and be employed foryears to come,”
states Shayler. “This investment is
not just a job for today but a career
for the future.We have an opportu-
nity to rejuvenate the north. These
job opportunities will revitalize our
northern communities and help
keep families together.”
“Local 170 is 100 percent commit-
ted to ensuring any job opportunity
in B.C. including: LNG projects, in-
dustrial, commercial/institutional
and pipeline projects, that appren-
ticeship and job opportunities go first
to British Columbians (inclusive of
First Nations), followed by Canadians
from other provinces in Canada,then
qualified US tradespersons (classi-
fied as temporary foreign workers),
followed by qualified offshore inter-
national workers (classified as off-
shore international temporary for-
eign workers),” says Shayler.
Apprenticeship and skills
training
Given the projected requirements to
build and maintain these projects,at-
tractingRedSealtradequalifiedwork-
ers and a skilled labour pool, remains
an essential component to bringing
LNG to market in B.C.In addition,ap-
prenticeshipandskillstrainingwillbe
required by British Columbians to en-
sureaccesstothiswork.
“In trades that require the com-
pletion of an apprenticeship, the
on-the-job training needs to be do-
ne under the tutelage of a journey-
person for that trade. The in-school
technical training for each year of
the apprenticeship must be comple-
ted in order to graduate to journey-
person status.
Shayler adds, “when you’re buil-
ding LNGs, it’s important that
they’re built by Red Seal journey-
persons and indentured apprenti-
ces registered with the B.C. Indu-
stry Training Authority. This ensu-
res that these facilities are built
according to the trades applicable
codeswhich in turn ensures the sa-
fety of the project and the surroun-
ding communities.”
By Benjamin Chacon
Photo: UA Local 170
“This investment is not just a job for today but
a career for the future. We have an opportunity
to rejuvenate the north. These job opportunities will
revitalize our northern communities and
help keep families together.”
Photo: UA Local 170

5. We do it right
the first time
UA Canada is the collective voice for
Canada’s piping trades professionals.
We are one of many organized labour
groups building Canada’s future.
We are damn proud of what we’ve accomplished
for our members, and for our country.
Organized labour has raised workplace standards
to a higher level for all working Canadians. We are
committed to improving workplace conditions and
safety practices on jobsites across this country.
We are committed to getting more young people
to work and we are committed to making sure
hard-working, talented men and women who are
building our country’s future are compensated for
their expertise.
Our skilled workers are laying the cornerstone for
the future of our country. One of these cornerstones
is democracy—something we often take for granted,
like the right to vote. There is an upcoming federal
election, and we encourage every Canadian to
exercise his or her democratic right.
Get out and vote. Canada is counting on you.
Canadian Head Office: 442 Gilmour Street – Ottawa, Ontario K2P 0R8
Phone (613) 565-1100 | Fax (613) 565-1200

6. INDUSTRY PERSPECTIVE
6 UNIONIZEDLABOUR.CA
Photo: UA Canada
I
t’s no secret to those
waiting for buses and
subways, or those id-
ling on crowded roads
and bridges that across
the country we need to
spend more on public
infrastructure. It’s estimated our
infrastructure deficit is anywhere
between $120 and $170 billion. “We
haven’t been investing in new pu-
blic transit or repaving our roads,
or investing in rail corridors,” says
Rick Smith, Executive Director of
the Broadbent Institute,a national,
non-partisan organization that ge-
nerates ideas and solutions for Ca-
nada to become more productive
and prosperous. “This impacts the
quality of life of all Canadians and
needs to be addressed.”
The Institute is calling for a five-
year $50-billion public infrastructu-
re spending initiative, to be shared
by the provincial and federal govern-
ments, after commissioning a report
that concludes this spending would
generate a large return on invest-
ment, trigger significant private sec-
tor investment, boost productivity,
stimulate jobs, and increase wages.
The report was authored by the Cen-
tre for Spatial Economics. “We are in
this state, because it was easy to ig-
nore, but by the time the cost of ig-
noring our infrastructure is tallied it
will cost even more, because the cost
of repairing it continues to rise,” says
Smith. “It’s like the homeowner that
ignores the small leak in the roof,and
then the whole thing falls in.”
Calls for a national
investment strategy
Smith would like to see a national-
ly coordinated strategy, and is bu-
oyed by the interest coming from
provincial and municipal govern-
ments across the country, who are
focused on the next generation of
infrastructure. “I am optimistic
this issue is getting the traction
it needs, but the federal govern-
ment needs to be a catalyst for a
lot of these discussions,” he says.
“The impacts on increased employ-
ment are inarguable. It will shave
the unemployment rate, and half
of the jobs created will be in con-
struction.” That’s good news for
people like John Telford, the UA’s
Director of Canadian Affairs, one
of the country’s largest trade uni-
ons. “Investing in infrastructure
creates good paying jobs,” he says.
“We need governments to do mo- By Ken Donohue
CallsForMoreSpending
OnInfrastructureWill
CreateJobsAndMake
CanadaMoreProductive
“We need governments
to do more. We’ve been
sold a story that low taxes
is a good thing, but lower
taxes means we can’t afford
to pay for infrastructure and
public services.”
re.We’ve been sold a story that low
taxes is a good thing,but lower tax-
es means we can’t afford to pay for
infrastructure and public services.”
Infrastructure
investment means more jobs
According to Telford, investing in
infrastructure also means young
people have an opportunity to get
their foot in the door to rewarding
career opportunities in the trades.
“The demographics in the trades
are definitely older, so there will
be a lot of retirements in the co-
ming years,” he says. “But we
need to be training more appren-
tices, so we’re prepared and don’t
end up with a huge shortage of
skilled workers.”
Whether it’s a national energy
strategy or building safe and envi-
ronmentally- sound pipelines, so
we don’t have to rely on foreign oil
to fill our refineries, or improved
public transportation in our lar-
gest cities, the federal election
campaign is providing a platform
for Canadians to have conversa-
tions about the need for govern-
ment to further invest in our pu-
blic infrastructure.

7. NEWS
MEDIAPLANET 7
B.C.’s construction industry
is strong, and has made con-
siderable advances over the
past 10 years in improving its
safety practices. But work-
ers are still getting hurt. One
source of injury in particular is
falls from elevation.
In fact, fall-related injuries cur-
rently account for about 35 per-
cent of WorkSafeBC claim costs in
construction. What’s more, when
a worker falls on a construction
site, it usually results in a serious,
life-altering type of injury.
The effort to reduce these dev-
astating injuries is a collective
one. As we strive towards a world
where even one severe workplace
injury is too many, the key is to
recognize that worksite safety is
everyone’s responsibility.
“Everyone plays a role when it
comes to safety in the workplace,”
says Don Schouten, Manager of
Construction Industry and Labour
Services at WorkSafeBC. “The em-
ployer’s role is to make sure the
site is safe by providing workers
with the proper training,tools,and
equipment to do their jobs safely.
Workers, similarly, have a respons-
ibility to ensure they follow the
proper procedures, utilize all re-
quired safety equipment, and most
importantly, speak out when they
don’t understand something or see
something that’s unsafe.”
It’s important to remember that
jobsites are never intentionally un-
safe and that everyone has an inter-
est in making them safer. “No one
wants to see someone injured on the
job,”saysSchouten.“Noonewantsto
havetomakethatphonecall.” By D.F. McCourt
We’re working with British Columbia’s construction industry to ensure current and future
workers stay safe. Find helpful industry resources at worksafebc.com/safetyatwork.
“My career in construction
is built on safety.”
“The employer’s role is to
make sure the site is safe
by providing workers with
the proper training, tools,
and equipment to do their
jobs safely.”
Employers and workers can
make a huge difference to safety,
he says, when they recognize the
real cost of dangerous work practi-
ces. Every time a worker or super-
visor walks past a missing guard-
rail or damaged harness without
saying something, they’ve missed
a chance to prevent a possible fall
and potentially life-changing in-
jury.When everyone involved looks
at these issues in terms of the in-
juries they might prevent by fix-
ing or reporting them, everyone
becomes safer. It’s not just about
meeting regulations, it’s about cre-
ating a safety culture,so that every-
one feels safe on the job and can go
home to the rest of their lives at the
end of the day.
BuildingASafer
Workplace:Everyone
PlaysARole
Photo: UA Canada

8. INSPIRATION
8 UNIONIZEDLABOUR.CA
mental health issues and reach out
forhelp.“Mentalhealthisaveryim-
portant subject. After a traumatic
call, the culture used to be to suck
it up and move on,” explains Steve
Farina, Health and Safety Rep and
member of the Coquitlam Fire Figh-
ters. “But we realize now that if you
have a lack of support and resour-
ces, seeing so many traumas can
boil over into PTSD and even extre-
me measures like suicide.”
Seeking help
While there are some resources
in place for firefighters to turn to,
one of the biggest hurdles is get-
ting members to feel comforta-
Protecting Those That Protect Us
I
t’s a cruel irony that
those most likely to
help others can find it
difficult to help them-
selves. Involvement in
a traumatic event is a
regular part of the job
for most Canadian first respond-
ers, yet many find it a struggle to
talk about the effects such stressful
situations can have on their emo-
tions. Sadly, this inability to seek
help can lead to depression, PTSD
and in the worst case, suicide.
The British Columbia Professio-
nal Fire Fighters Association is one
organisation looking to make it ea-
sier for their members to talk about
“We have to
create a new
normal where
it’s okay to talk
about mental
and behavioral
health.”
ble asking for help. There is often
a stigma associated with expres-
sing emotions, especially in a cul-
ture as historically macho as fire-
fighting.“We need to eliminate the
stigma….it takes real courage to ask
for help,” notes Farina.
“We have to create a new normal
whereit’sokaytotalkaboutmental
and behavioral health,” says Surrey
Fire Fighters Association President
Mike McNamara. “People have to
feel comfortable saying they have
an emotional injury. Because emo-
tional injuries are no different than
a leg or head injury. Feelings are a
part of our body — just a very com-
plicated part.”
Education and awareness
This issue has particular signifi-
cance to McNamara who lost two
friends and fellow firefighters to
suicide recently.Both he and Farina
emphasize the importance educa-
tion and awareness play in pre-
venting such tragedies. “I’m a cap-
tain now and responsible for my
crew’sphysicalandmentalwell-be-
ing. I need to recognize signs and
symptoms and be able to do mental
first aid with my crew when need-
ed. We all need this training,” says
Farina. “We need people to feel like
going to a counsellor is like going to
a dentist,” adds McNamara. “It
needs to feel normal.”
It is important to understand that work-related stress is common in any work environment, and getting
the conversation started about mental health issues is important.
By Sandra MacGregor