Apprenticeship: Today’s Investment = Tomorrow’s Competitive Advantage!

OTTAWA – February 5, 2009 - How will the current economic situation affect Canadian industries? Will employers need to adjust their strategies for training apprentices? How will the economic situation impact individuals who are employed in these industries? How will we retain our investments in our skilled tradespeople, apprentices and apprenticeship programs to ensure we are ready to address future needs when the economy improves?

On February 25, the Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien sur l'apprentissage (CAF-FCA) will host a dialogue to examine apprenticeship workplaces practices in this economy. The CAF-FCA Board of Directors, who represent the Canadian apprenticeship community, want to identify steps that could be helpful to employers and apprentices in adapting to the current situation, and in ensuring we maintain the investments made in preparing for future workplace and workforce demands.

Glen Hodgson, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist of the Conference Board of Canada will open the discussion by providing an economic outlook. Other panelists include industry representatives from across Canada Apprenticeship Workplace Practices in our Current Economic Situation is the fifth dialogue hosted by the CAF-FCA. CAF-FCA membership includes business and labour representatives, provincial and territorial Directors of Apprenticeship, the Interprovincial Alliance of Apprenticeship Board Chairs, educators, and equity seeking groups from the apprenticeship community. CAF-FCA hosts the twice-yearly dialogues to provide the opportunity to discuss emerging trends and issues that impact apprenticeship training.

Apprenticeship Workplace Practices in our Current Economic Situation

For further information:
Margo Roycer,
Communications Manager,
(613) 235-4004 ext. 207, margo_royce@caf-fca.org, Canadian Apprenticeship Forum-Forum canadien sur l'apprentissage,
116 Albert Street, Suite 812,
Ottawa, ON, K1P 5G3,
www.caf-fca.org