PROVINCIAL ANNUAL REPORT TO NETAC ON HUMAN RESOURCE MATTERS
April 2008

Contact Person: Dale Metcalf                                            Tel: (306) 721-8131
                                                                                         Fax: (306) 721-2562
                                                                                         E-mail: dale.metcalf@nufab.com

Provincial and Local Education, Training, Human Resources Committee(s)

Local: Saskatoon, Education & Training Committee, Scholarship Committee – meetings held when required.
              Regina, Education & Training Committee – formed in the Winter of 2008

1. SKILLED LABOUR FORCE DEVELOPMENT

1.  
   1.  
      1. Promoting careers in the residential construction sector through publications, school talks and participating in career fairs
      2. Targeting workers from other regions, specifically Alberta, through advertising, career fairs and trade shows
      3. Targeting workers in other sectors
      4. Targeting Saskatchewan’s significant Aboriginal workforce
      5. Developing Essential Skills assessment and training tools
      6. Supporting students in pre-employment training
      7. Supporting high school construction related programming
      8. Providing financial support to students in related high school, pre-employment or apprenticeship programs
      9. Securing funding to support dedicated staff to support carpentry and carpentry sub-trade apprentices and workers
      10. Securing funding to dedicate staff to connect prospective students and workers to members
      11. To develop HR training and supports for small employers to help improve recruitment and retention
      12. To aggressively promote continuous education, specifically apprenticeship training
      13. To link members with partners in these efforts

A. Plan to Address Skill Labour Force Development

The Regina and Region and Saskatoon & Region Home builders’ Associations have developed extensive plans to support skilled labour force development with programs and partnerships with many local and provincial organizations.  CHBA – Saskatchewan helps bridge the local efforts to promote economies of scale and to provide a united voice to the provincial government for funding support. Saskatchewan initiatives include:



CHBA--Saskatchewan has funding agreements to support Industry Development Coordinators that support the above efforts but also act as a link with local employment and training providers to members.  The IDCs also work with employment programs that offer employability and essential skills training for new entrants in the industry with a specific emphasis on Aboriginal workers.

 Saskatoon & Region home Builders’ Association has developed two Essential Skills proposals to develop trade specific assessment and training tools to support new and existing workers in the industry.  One project has been approved the other is expected to be approved in the summer of 2008.

B. Pre-Apprenticeship

CHBA—Saskatchewan and the local Associations support a number of pre-apprenticeship training programs at a high school, community college and essential skills level as noted above and below.

 

C. Trades Apprenticeship

Keith Hanson, a Director of Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association sits on the boards of both the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission and Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology, the province’s primary trades training organization.  In addition, members sit on a number of Apprenticeship boards including carpentry.

Both the Saskatoon and Regina Associations have been given the Joint Training Committee designation by SATCC which allows them to indenture apprentices in carpentry and the carpentry sub-trades.  CHBA – Saskatchewan has secured a five year funding agreement with the Ministry of Advanced Education, Employment and Labour to fund JTC coordinators and marketing to promote the framing sub-trade in both Saskatoon & Regina regions. On January 29th, the first upgrading program began for the framing sub-trade in Saskatoon.

JTC coordinators are tasked with indenturing apprentices, assisting with required paperwork and endeavouring to provide placements for apprentices.  In addition the JTC coordinators oversee significant promotion of the framing sub-trade through face to face meetings with employers and crews as well as through the use of  local media and advertising.

In 2007, the SATCC removed 4th year apprentices from ratio calculations. The association has also been informed that due to rising demand for carpentry seats for apprentices that SIAST will once again offer carpentry apprenticeship training in both Saskatoon & Regina, a long standing demand of the local Associations.

D. Other Trades, Occupations & Installers

The Associations have not been approached by employers or employees in non-apprenticeship trades regarding specific training for their industries. The local Associations do provide technical training seminars that may cover topic areas of interest to these trades but no formal training programs have been developed.

E. Youth Directives

Both local Associations have longstanding relationships with local high schools providing school talks, and materials promoting careers in the trades.  Both local Associations work with high schools featuring construction programs, providing leadership, work experience and financial support for students. 

Saskatoon has provided a number of scholarships and bursaries for high school students and those in pre-trades training through local community colleges. Regina is developing a scholarship & bursary program to be launched this year.

The Regina and Saskatoon Association’s support local work experience programs through a number of members. 

In addition to school talks and participating in career fairs throughout Saskatchewan and Alberta our local Associations provide significant space in their respective home shows to highlight careers in the residential construction trades through hands on activities and educational materials.  The Saskatoon HomeStyles home show has hosted Provincial Skills Canada competitions annually for the past few years and in 2007 was a partner with Skills Canada Saskatchewan to host the National Skills Competitions in Saskatoon.

Also in connection with the Career Centre at the Saskatoon home show the Association runs an Xtreme Hard Hat competition open to high school students throughout the CMA where students decorate a hard hat for $1000 in prize money.

The Saskatoon Association also hosts a Skills Work conference for young women in grades 11&12 that are interested in a career in the trades. 

The Regina Association is participating in the Skilled Trades Career Day on November 3, 2008 with a program providing Grade 8 students with hands on activities and information on practical and applied high school course offerings.

The Regina Association also sits on the steering and programming committees of the Regina Trades and Skills Training Centre, a $13 million dollar project spearheaded by the local school boards to provide skills development and support services for youth and other job seekers in the inner city community of Regina.  While training is currently underway in facilities across the city, the steering committee is developing plans for a new facility to be developed to provide all training and services in one centre.

Both local Associations are in regular contact with local high schools regarding speaking opportunities, career fairs, work placements, scholarships and bursaries and other needs.  Both Associations also work closely with high schools with specific construction or carpentry related programs and connecting them with members for projects and prizes.

F. Studies and Reports        

No specific reports were commissioned in these areas.

 

2. Professionalization of the residential construction industry 

A. Builder/Renovator Designation Programs

CHBA – Saskatchewan is preparing a needs assessment to update the existing Certified Professional Builder Program as per the recently developed standards set out by CHBA. 

Saskatoon & Region Home Builders’ Association has adopted the RenoMark program.

B. Training Facility  

The Saskatoon & Region Home Builders does have an adjacent office that houses their Joint Training Committee coordinator and Literacy coordinator.  There are also workstations where workers can take computer training such as CSTS and a small training/meeting room.  Regina is currently developing a similar arrangement in their office.

C. Studies and Reports

       Did your Association undertake any research or produce reports on the above in 2007?  If yes, please attach the reports.

       No.

 

3. COURSE DELIVERY AND DEVELOPMENT

A. Education and Training Activities

Education & Training activities in 2007 were limited to health and safety training and economic and housing outlook forecasts.

The Provincial conference in September 2008 will include an industry trade show and both Associations are looking at a number of technical issues that will require program delivery in 2008, including a 2005 building code course in Saskatoon when the code is adopted by Saskatchewan in April.

B. Courses Delivered/Sponsored by Association

None.

 

C. Studies and Reports        

No.

 

4. Workplace Health and Safety

A. Workplace Health and Safety Plan

Safety on the job sites is of fundamental importance to the Home Builders’ Associations in Saskatchewan.  Both local Associations possess a Safety Committee that is tasked with promoting safe work practices to all members. All members must provide their Workers Compensation Board number when joining the Association and new builder members of the Saskatoon Association must register with the Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association’s Certificate of Recognition (COR) program or Small Employer Certificate of Recognition.

B. Workplace Health and Safety Information

Saskatchewan Construction Safety Association oversees safety training and COR auditing for the residential sector in Saskatchewan.  A member from both local Associations sits on the board of the Association.  Due to pressure from CHBA – Saskatchewan the SCSA has doubled the number of advisors dedicated to the residential sector from two to four.  The Association is continuing to press to have an advisor positioned within the local offices to help direct efforts to promote on-site safety and provide more direct assistance for small companies within the industry.

C. Studies and Reports        

No.