b'MCAC AND CIPH REPORT THAT OVER THE PAST YEAR, 62 PER CENT OF MEMBERSSURVEYED SAY THEY HAVE LOST OR HAD TO TURN DOWN CONTRACTS OR HAVEPAID LATE-DELIVERY PENALTIES BECAUSE THEY LACK SKILLED WORKERS.impact of labour shortages is severe, andTheyve done a good job with programsMCAC and CIPH have developed figures from BuildForce Canada suggestlike the Sectoral Workforce Solutionsthree key recommendations in this area. that 20 per cent of the 2022 labour forceProgram to help groups upscale andIn order to help increase and develop will have retired by 2032. This is creatingreskill workers within their industry forCanadas skilled construction workforce, even more demand for skilled workers andthe future economy. Wed like to see thethey urge the federal government to:consequently hampering efforts to program continue to grow. 1. ncrease investment in attracting achieve net-zero goals, among otherInegative effects. The Sectoral Workforce Solutionsworkers to skilled trades essential for Program helps key sectors of the economyCanadas carbon transitionespecially Both organizations are calling for morethe mechanical tradesto weather opportunities for hands-on learning,implement solutions to address theircurrent and future labourstarting earlier in life to foster interest incurrent and emerging workforce needsmarket challenges.the trades and demonstrate opportunitiesby funding sectoral projects to support2.Provide support for innovative for success and entrepreneurship as workers and employers through a range a tradesperson. of activities like training, recruitment andprograms that drive international retention. The construction industry isrecruitment of people with experience In addition to developing the homegrownin the mechanical trades through workforce, they say Canada mustamong the sectors that may be prioritizedpartnerships with colleges and also intensify its efforts to attract newfor funding. trainingcentres. Canadians into the construction industry. We support changes to the immigration system that will help ensure that the jobs needed within our country are being considered as priorities when it comes to immigration, says Lancastle.Were looking at different ways we can introduce new Canadians to our industry and ensure that our sector is given proper consideration. An important part of that is mapping out the career possibilities within that sector so its easier to match our job requirements with international credentials, he says.To this end, the federal government has developed innovative immigration measures, such as creating pathways for out-of-status migrants. For instance, in 2019, Immigration, Refugees and Citizenship Canada launched a permanent residence pilot program with the Canadian Labour Congress for 500 out-of-status workers in the construction industry in the Greater Toronto Area. The program has since been expanded to include 1,000 workers. In the first 10 months of 2022, Canada issued over 645,000 work permitsalmost four times the number issued over the same period in 2021.One of the things we continue to push for is to have the federal government step up its promotion of the skilled trades as a career of opportunity, Lancastle adds. NATIONAL BULLETIN | Issue 1, 202329'