Replies

1. 
   Barry_E | Mar 09, 2002 08:18pm | #1

   *
   Try this

   http://globeandmail.workopolis.com/servlet/News/fasttrack/20020305/PRWORK?title=Trades

1. 
   Bill_Hartmann | Mar 09, 2002 08:21pm | #2

   *BrentA scanned page is VERY LONG and hard to read.Here is a link to the story.http://www.theglobeandmail.com/servlet/GIS.Servlets.HTMLTemplate?tf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.html&cf=tgam/search/tgam/SearchFullStory.cfg&configFileLoc=tgam/config&encoded_keywords=builders&option=&start_row=9&current_row=9&start_row_offset1=&num_rows=1&search_results_start=1

1. 
   Brent_Hornick | Mar 09, 2002 08:25pm | #3

   *Thanks Gentlemen, I hope people get some good information. The links on Bill and Barry's post are the way to go!

1. 
   George_Oliver | Mar 10, 2002 10:57am | #4

   *I don't understand this article very well...why does Canada import from Ukraine, Philipines, Chile when the companies still have to pay market rate? Why not the U.S.? or Mexico? are there some kind of labor deals, or -- labor brokers or something like that? I mean...is this something like companies looking for cheap labor or something different?and is 8% unemployment high in Canada or low? Isn't that high for the U.S.? The article makes it sound like it's low for Canada.GO

1. 
   S.D._Spooner | Mar 10, 2002 09:00pm | #5

   *George,This article is the first I've heard of imported tradespeople. I'm not sure why those countries' workers have been targeted specifically but I suspect it must be some kind of labor deal set up by or through our federal government. As far as importing from the U.S., my understanding is that you guys have been going through an extended building boom in many areas down there. Seattle, Scottsdale, and San Diego are just a few of the cities I've heard are critically short of skilled trades. The last story I heard was that there was a two year waiting list to get a home built in Scottsdale, Arizona. The belief here is that we've lost a number of Canadian tradespeople to the U.S. Part of the problem is that the high tech industry has been heavily promoted here (and I imagine it has in the States too) and many more young people are going for that line of work rather than the trades. I think it's two years, full time to become a Certified Microsoft Technician as opposed to a four or five year apprenticeship in a trade. Make decent money in less time and you don't have to wreck your body. I can see the attraction.Scott

2. 
   Adrian_Wilson | Mar 11, 2002 02:20pm | #6

   *There is a shortage of people with the right skills....not a shortage of people out of work. 8% unemployment is sort of average for Canada, nationally, recently....in my area, we often go 18-24%, and that only counts people who qualify for unemployment insurance that aren't working....doesn't count people whose claims have run out. As far as construction goes, the average age of a qualified tradesman in Canada right now is 55; by 2006, they are predicting a three week wait for a plumber. We still have apprenticeship here, and several trades are regulated, so even if there was a huge influx tomorrow, it's gonna be four years before the journeymen start coiming out the other end of the pipeline....six if they take the less formal route. I know of many guys that are gone....first it was Japan, now all through the States, especially new England on the big industrial projects. They're in big demand. in my trade, even in this area of high unemployment, i get lots of calls looking for people. I also know employers who would like to add significant numbers of people, and can't find them...I definitely know oof Uruguayan machine operators coming here, and one employer is talking about going to Chile for the fifteen guys he wants. The other side of it is, under new immigration laws, it will be virtually impossible for a foreign tradesperson to qualify to immigrate permanently.weird situaton.

3. 
   Brent_Hornick | Mar 11, 2002 07:16pm | #7

   *I think it is a tragic situation that here in Canada we can't fill positions. My neighbour is struggling to make ends meet plowing snow in the winter and grading homes in the construction months. He only pulls in $15/hour and works like crazy. There are lots of other people across Canada in the Maritimes and Praries who would gladly work in TO for the same or less benefits that we are giving other country Trade people. I've also had the misfortune of working with some of these people who are here under similar programs and thier work is very poor. They seem to believe that they are entitled to the job are I should be satisfied with their work. I think this whole Importing business is really sad for Canada and the millions they will spend should be put to educating and informining Canadian youth about the Trades.