Amendments to Apprenticeship Trade Qualifications Act will encourage more Nova Scotians to pursue apprenticeship says Construction Association of Nova Scotia

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HALIFAX, November 13, 2014 ‐‐ The Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) supports the proposed amendments to the Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act accepted on November 6th, 2014. “These amendments are a step in the right direction,” says CANS President Duncan Williams. “They will go a long way in encouraging more Nova Scotians to pursue apprenticeship as well as make it easier for those already in the system to come back to Nova Scotia to work.”

Currently, only about half of apprentices registered in Nova Scotia complete their certification. “Making it easier for apprentices to receive and complete their training is the ultimate goal, and consistency across the country will help to achieve that,” says Williams.

The amendments include changes that allow Nova Scotia apprentices who pursue on-the-job-training in another province to no longer have to register in that province, and out-of-province on-the-job and trades training to be recognized.

“These amendments will allow for Nova Scotia apprentices to move through their apprenticeship training faster and will make it easier for those apprentices who leave the province for work to ultimately come home,” says Williams.

In 2013 CANS made recommendations to the Minister of Labour and Advanced Education regarding the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship system. These recommendations looked to see employers more involved and accountable, to create more apprenticeship opportunities, to improve support, and for the creation of a Special Operating Agency. Throughout 2014 CANS has continued to play an active role in the development of this new industry-led, industry-driven Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency.

CANS also knows that earlier education of Nova Scotia’s youth on the opportunities available to them can go a long way in encouraging more people to enter the skilled trades and in ensuring success of the apprenticeship system.

In 2008 CANS launched the Building Futures for Youth Program. The program, which was developed in partnership with the Department of Education, the Department of Labour and Advanced Education – Apprenticeship Training and Skill Development Division, and the Nova Scotia Community College, offers grade 10 and 11 students the opportunity to safely explore careers in the construction industry through paid summer work terms.

“Building Futures for Youth promotes career awareness and long term attachment to the construction industry,” says Williams. “Through the program students gain experience in a construction industry occupation, earn co-operative education credits, register as construction trades pre-apprentices, make connections with industry, become eligible for scholarship opportunities, and most importantly, gather information to help make informed career choices.”

“The program has seen great success since it began,” adds Williams. “Since 2008 Building Futures for Youth has provided over 400 students the opportunity to safely explore careers in the skilled trades at over 120 companies across Nova Scotia.”

CANS represents more than 750 large and small companies that build, renovate and restore non-residential buildings, roads, bridges and other engineering projects. We are an industry trade association representing the interests of contractors, suppliers and service providers throughout Atlantic Canada and across the country. Construction is a $2.8 billion a year industry in Nova Scotia and employs nearly 30,000 men and women from across the province. For more information about the Construction Association of Nova Scotia visit www.cans.ns.ca.

 

 

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For more information contact:

Janet Tobin
Communications and Marketing Lead
Construction Association of Nova Scotia
Ph: (902) 468.2267 x. 713
Cell: (902) 818-0835
jtobin@cans.ns.ca

152nd Annual General Meeting

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The CANS 152nd Annual General Meeting was held October 3rd-5th, 2014 at Rodd Brudenell River Resort in PEI. Over 130 CANS members attended the weekend-long event and enjoyed networking, keynote speakers, and Strategic Priority Area Committee Reports at the CANS AGM Business Session.

Read more.

CANS CAMPAIGN FOR IWK RAISED $1,581,543.00!

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“CANS and members of the construction industry know the importance of building healthy communities,” said Adrian Morrison, regional vice president with Black & McDonald and chair of the CANS Campaign for the IWK. “As Atlantic Canadian builders, we believe in creating world-class facilities right here at home. Our families deserve nothing less. We’re extremely proud to be able to have this kind of impact.” Read more.

No Seal, No Deal

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A few years ago, CCA created some documentation regarding the proper use of CCA/CCDC documents. There has been a recent resurgence in interest in this material, so we wanted to remind everyone that it is still available for your use.  Read more.

 

Thiel Group sues over Nova Centre planning exemption

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The development of the $500-million Nova Centre complex under construction in downtown Halifax has taken a new litigious twist.

The Thiel Family Group of Companies, owners of the Bank of Montreal Building, the TD Centre and the downtown block of buildings proposed to be redeveloped as 22nd Commerce Square, has launched a Nova Scotia Supreme Court action, alleging that the provincial government broke its own laws by granting Argyle Developments Inc., owner and developer of Nova Centre, an exemption from municipal planning rules.

Read more.

Electrical Contractors and the PCB Regulations

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Environment Canada has released an information document regarding PCB regulations. This document outlines the following:

  • What are polychlorinated biphenyls?
  • Why are PCBs harmful?
  • Do the PCB Regulations affect me?
  • Identification of equipment containing PCBs
  • Building renovations, relamping, equipment
    servicing/removal

Download the PCB_Electrical Sector Info Sheet

Fall Protection Safety Bulletin

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Are you in compliance?

The new Workplace Health and Safety Regulations (WHSR)  have come into effect. These regulations replaced the current Fall Protection and Scaffolding Regulations; Temporary Workplace Traffic Control Regulations, and Occupational Health Regulations. In addition, the Occupational Safety General Regulations have been amended to make them consistent with the WHS.

Learn more about the new regulations and how to get updated.

 

DeIcer

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The 2014 CANS De-Icer was a huge success! Thank you to all the sponsors who made the night possible and to all of those who came out to kick off the season!

We’d love your feedback on the event!
Fill out the De-Icer Experience Survey

First Contract Arbitration

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The Construction Association of Nova Scotia (CANS) believes Minister Regan’s announcement today amending Bill 102 is delivering on a pre-election promise and is a step in bringing the certification and first contract negotiation process back in to balance. Minister Regan introduced amendments to the Trade Union Act that will ensure the Labour Board can only impose a first agreement if it determines there was bad faith bargaining.

“CANS has always supported the long-established principles and practices of businesses and their employees engaging in free collective bargaining,” says Duncan Williams, CANS President. “While ultimately we would have liked to see the Bill repealed, today’s announcement helps bring that process back in to balance.”

“CANS’ position on First Contract Arbitration, one shared by many industry groups in Nova Scotia, is that its introduction was unnecessary and disrespectful to long standing labour relations best practices,” adds Williams. “Further, its aggressive nature was a potential deterrent to potential business investment in our province.”

“It also introduced unrealistic levels of uncertainty that businesses could view as significant exposure to uncontrollable risk,” adds Williams. “Today’s amendments will remove much of that uncertainty.”

“Currently parties do not have to prove that anyone is bargaining in bad faith and can simply run out the clock,” says Williams. “This is not in the spirit of true collective bargaining and does not encourage true negotiation and communication between parties.” In a pre-election survey CANS questioned each Party on the issue of First Contract Arbitration, the Liberal Party response was: A Liberal government will amend First Contract Arbitration legislation to ensure that parties have to prove that one party is bargaining in bad faith in order to go to arbitration.

“We are happy to see that this administration keep their election promise to amend First Contract Arbitration,” says Williams. “With these amendments Nova Scotia’s legislation is brought more in line with the federal government and other provinces.”

The amendments also remove the 120 day timeline and the Labour Board can choose to allow parties to continue to bargain, allow a strike or lockout, order more conciliation, or impose a contract.

“These amendments place far more obligation on each party to reach first contract before a third party arbitrator – potentially unfamiliar with the industry and a given firm’s structure – imposes a contract.”

CANS represents more than 760 large and small companies that build, renovate and restore non-residential buildings, roads, bridges and other engineering projects. We are an industry trade association representing the interests of contractors, suppliers and service providers throughout Atlantic Canada and across the country. Construction is a $2.8 billion a year industry in Nova Scotia and employs nearly 30,000 men and women from across the province.

 

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For more information contact:

Janet Tobin
Communications and Marketing Lead
Construction Association of Nova Scotia
Ph: (902) 468.2267 x. 713
Cell: (902) 818-0835
jtobin@cans.ns.ca

Administrative Penalties

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