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Investing in Trades Education

CLRA has consistently championed collegiate schools and dual-credit programs in Alberta. To that end, we were encouraged to learn of the recent $100 million investment in career education programs announced by the Alberta government in Budget 2025. If the Budget is passed, this investment will provide countless students with early exposure to, and hands-on experience with, lasting trades career options. To see years of CLRA advocacy for dual credit programming come to fruition through this proposed funding is more than a win for the organization – it’s a win for Alberta. Collegiate schools are playing a core role in these efforts, offering specialized programming that allow grade 7-12 students to gage their interest in – and aptitude for – various career paths. Budget 2025 allocates over $21 million to improve collegiate school learning environments by funding state-of-the-art classrooms, including carpentry workshops, heavy equipment simulators, and aircraft hangars. Another $4.6 million has been dedicated to dual credit programming. Through partnerships with businesses, universities, and colleges, dual credit programs allow students to build practical workplace skills while earning credits toward graduation – effectively hitting two targets with one arrow. Students that graduate under this programming often begin building their careers straight from

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Learn about diversity in the trades:
WorkAlbertaTrades.org/Todays-New-Workforce

CLRA Teaming Up with the Edmonton Elks

Here’s why you should consider the trades:
WorkAlbertaTrades.org/Education-Tools-for-Trades

News

Announcement

CLRA’s Work to Bridge the Labour Gap

CLRA President Joe McFadyen’s recent op-ed explores the many ways CLRA is combatting against the ongoing skilled labour shortage. With $22 billion in energy projects planned and an estimated 20,000 workers needed over the next ten years, CLRA has been doing its part to fill in the workforce gap. McFadyen began by spotlighting CLRA’s “Seed vs. Sod” strategy, which recognizes the value both in growing homegrown talent through education, training, and mentorship as well as short-term fixes like recruiting non-local workers from outside the province. He also shared how CLRA, in partnership with the Government of Alberta and our industry colleagues, is advocating for increased apprenticeships and mentorship programs targeting youth. This advocacy work is bearing fruit: Budget 2025, if passed, is allocating millions to trades career education programming and facilities. The recent $5 million investment in union training centres is another step in the right direction, and CLRA employers – who fund these centres – are committed to maximizing their impact. Planning productive meetings and events with key stakeholders and policymakers are other means of impacting real change in the construction sphere. Our workforce development spring event moderated by panelists from NAIT and the Business Council of Alberta, as

Announcement

Advanced Skills Centre Announcement

CLRA was pleased to attend Alberta Government’s announcement today that commits to continually investing in NAIT’s upcoming Advanced Skills Centre, expected to begin operations by 2029. A total of $43 million – with $20 million earmarked in Budget 2025, if approved – is allotted to fund pre-construction planning and design of the Centre. When complete, the project is expected to expand apprentice training by 4,200 individuals each year. The Centre will add 640,000 square feet of state-of-the-art learning space, delivering high-quality education in technology-based and apprenticeship programs. There are also plans to build a 10,000-square-foot space for trades and technology skills exploration, offering hands-on learning opportunities for K-12 students, community groups, and industry partners. With Alberta’s population – and upcoming major project plans – steadily rising, it is imperative that our students have ample access to programming that leads to safe and successful careers in the construction industry. This facility announcement demonstrates a strategic investment – and direct response to – the labour shortage that CLRA members are currently grappling with. We will continue to support and celebrate initiatives that attract, train, educate, hire, and retain Alberta’s construction workforce of tomorrow. One of the largest apprenticeship trainers in Canada, over

Announcement

Meeting with Alberta’s Skilled Trades Caucus

Construction Labour Relations Alberta President Joe McFadyen met with the Alberta Skilled Trades Caucus last Tuesday to discuss strategies for addressing workforce challenges – and opportunities – in the construction sector. We shared CLRA’s vision to grow a sustainable, skilled workforce through our Seed vs. Sod approach – the concept of utilizing both short- and long-term trades recruitment methods. Our ongoing advocacy work and stakeholder partnerships were also highlighted, including our collaborations with the Government of Alberta and Building Trades of Alberta. With 20,000 new workers needed over the next decade to support the province’s fast-growing infrastructure development, the CLRA continues to champion the need for increased apprenticeships, mentorships, and greater employee engagement for young workers. Learn more about Building Skills for Jobs here.

Excerpt: Board Chair's New Year Message to Members

“Over the next several months, much of our association’s focus for that work will be advocacy with the provincial government and with other industry stakeholders. Politics in Alberta have changed dramatically and permanently over the last decade. As a result, we have work to do to raise awareness about CLRA with decision-makers and influencers in government.

“We have important messages to deliver on your behalf about the value of the collective agreements we’ve signed with the skilled trade unions, about the value CLRA offers to government efforts to attract investment and workers to Alberta, about the need for more predictable and stable investments in the construction industry, trades education and workforce retention, about the impact of potential changes to labour legislation, workplace safety regulations and building codes, and about the need to attract and recruit more people to our industry from underrepresented groups including women, LGBTQ2S+ and Indigenous people.

“As Chair, my only ask of our members this year is to support these efforts.”