b'PRESIDENTS MESSAGEDEREK ERMEN, MCAC President and Chair, 2022/2023THE SKILLS SHORTAGE CANT BE SOLVEDBY REMOVING VALUE FROM THE TRADESThere is no other way to put it: Canada is in the midst of a skills shortageW hen talking to contractors and our mem- the establishment of a standalone heat pump bers across the country, the message is con- installation trade. While this may see a greater sistently the same: our members are facingnumber of heat pumps installed in residential staff shortages at levels from jobsites to office andmarkets in the short term, it is a step that would management roles, and these shortages are having aonly serve to devalue the existing trades alreadyreal impact on productivity and capacity. in place.While this shouldnt come as a surprise to usforTradespeople in Canada, and particularly Red Seal years we have seen the numbers for the impendingtrades, already undertake significant training and retirement boomindustries across the countrytesting protocols. Instead of creating a new trades are actively looking for solutions to the issue atstreamwhich risks creating a false economy for hand. For many, immigration and underrepresentedthose tradesjurisdictions across Canada would be groups are seen as short-term solutions to addressbetter served by utilizing the existing workforce and the immediate and present concerns.enhancing the skillsets of ticketed trades. And while the mechanical contracting sector isIn other words, any credentialling or certification no different, we also face what might be a moredone in isolation of the current training and concerning challenge: ensuring this race to findcertification regime would be counteractive to solutions does not interfere with the valued skillsgrowing and creating a sustainable workforce to of our workers. While jurisdictions across theaddress the countrys ongoing needs. We need to country should be commended for identifying theremain mindful of the skilled women and men importance of the skilled trades, it should be equallywho already make up our industry and the great understood that not all skilled trades (or industryeducation and training regimes already in place.sectors that rely on skilled trades) are the same.As I mentioned, the mechanical contracting sector Recent provincial announcements to encourageis at a crossroads. youth to enter the trades at a younger age are one such example. On paper, it is great to seeAs an industry, we understand the need to build more active promotion of the trades as a careercapacity in the trades. The skills shortage is opportunity. However, these policy changes mayhappening now, and we must look at the present-be short sighted, potentially leaving new entrantsday solutions that are available to us, such as without the more substantive education required forimmigration. But in the long term, we need to aptitude testing and ongoing training throughoutlook at systemic changechange that not only their apprenticeship progress. attracts more highly skilled entrants to our sector, As a business owner and active participantbut that also elevates our sector and our people to a in Canadas construction industry, I agreeplace where all Canadians understand the value of wholeheartedly with announcements that are meantmechanical contracting. to encourage new entrants to the trades. ShowcasingEfforts to create new trades to meet current demand the outstanding careers that are available in ourwill ultimately do more damage to our sector in the industry should be done more often and sharedlong run. The same can also be said of any narrative more widely. It is incumbent on us to make surethat somehow insinuates tradespeople require less those stories are told as frequently as possible. Buteducation than their peers and colleagues in the we also need to make sure we are elevating the workforce. Both efforts do more harm than good value of these trades, and not diluting the quality and effectively take away from the tremendous of education and training required to skillsets our sector requires.achieve accreditation.Ultimately, we must continue to create cultural An additional area of concern relates to micro- and systemic change that will build our industrys credentials and the desire to create a rapidcapacity for years to come, and that reinforces just certification of tradespeople to meet niche andhow valuable the mechanical contracting sector isshort-term demands. One example relates toto Canadians.8 www.mcac.ca'