New Apprenticeship Advisory Committee

January 15 2004 - Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, has announced the establishment of a five-member apprenticeship advisory committee to consult with business, labour, and provincial and territorial governments

Volpe announced that David Haggard of Burnaby, British Columbia has been appointed Chairperson. Four other committee members will be appointed shortly, following consultations with organizations representing business and labour.

David Haggard was elected national president of the 55,000-member Industrial, Wood and Allied Workers Union of Canada (IWA) from 1996 to 2004. He is regarded as having extensive knowledge of the Canadian labour movement, employment relations and negotiations, and experience in problem- solving, mediation and government relations. David Haggard has also been active in many interprovincial training initiatives and has served on a number of committees related to apprenticeship during his years as a Canadian labour leader.

"Mr. Haggard is well aware of apprenticeship issues having worked in the forestry sector as well as the manufacturing industry, which account for many apprenticeship trades," said Minister Volpe. "I am confident that Mr. Haggard will bring knowledge of business and labour views on trades training that will benefit the Committee's work."

The Advisory Committee will be tasked with consulting business and labour, as well as provinces and territories, to make recommendations on apprenticeship issues from both business and union perspectives. The Committee will collect and synthesize the views of workplace partners on pan-Canadian issues such as increasing the participation of business and labour in apprenticeship, and improving the interprovincial mobility of apprentices and skilled tradespeople. The Committee will submit its final report by the end of September 2005.

"The Committee members will consult with provinces and territories in full respect of their jurisdiction in apprenticeship," said Minister Volpe. "While apprenticeship is well established in Canada, the Government of Canada is interested in how apprenticeship can meet the current and rising demands for skilled, adaptable and mobile trade workers in Canada."

"I'm excited by the opportunity to study, in conjunction with other levels of government, business and labour groups, the challenges and issues surrounding apprenticeship programs across this country," said David Haggard. "I am looking forward to engaging with everyone involved with, and interested in, the issues surrounding this important lifelong learning initiative."

The announcement is linked to Canada's Workplace Skills Strategy aimed at helping Canadians to become the best trained, most highly skilled workers in the world, as well as ensuring that employers' needs are met.