Manitoba Government Supports Workers by Restoring 1:1 Apprenticeship Ratio

October 22, 2024

Changes Promote Safety and Support Quality Hands-On Education: Moses

Regulatory changes that restore the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio and modernize training programs will come into effect Oct. 30, Economic Development, Investment, Trade and Natural Resources Minister Jamie Moses announced today.

“Restoring the 1:1 ratio supports safe and higher quality training for workers,” said Moses. “All Manitobans deserve to come home safely at the end of their workday.”

Changes to the Apprenticeship and Certification General Regulation will also ensure apprentices receive high-quality supervision and appropriate supports throughout their training program, noted the minister.

“Apprenticeship is the training program, Red Seal is the career,” said Tanya Palson, executive director, Manitoba Building Trades. “This change will help young Manitobans feel sure that when they enter the training program, they are supported to completion so that they can build their careers and support their families here at home.”

The previous government removed the 1:1 ratio requirement, compromising the safety of Manitoba workers, the minister said, adding that the 1:1 ratio was established in response to the 1999 death of Michael Skanderberg, who was killed on the job while working unsupervised.

“I applaud the Manitoba government for restoring the 1:1 apprentice-to-journeyperson ratio,” said Cindy Skanderberg, mother of Michael Skanderberg. “Every day I will fight to keep Manitoba workers safe. This will save lives.”

Other regulatory changes will modernize the apprenticeship system to reduce administrative burdens and improve Manitoba’s competitiveness with other Canadian jurisdictions, noted the minister.

“IBEW 2085 strongly opposed the 2:1 ratio because for someone training to be an electrician, proper supervision can be a matter of life and death,” said Dave McPhail, business manager, International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers (IBEW) 2085. “Restoring the ratio to 1:1 means that this government is serious about building Manitoba with highly skilled, properly trained Red Seals.”

The minister noted existing apprenticeship agreements can continue if:

• employers have been permitted to have journeypersons supervise more than one apprentice;
• apprentices actively demonstrate continued progress in their apprenticeship program under pre-existing employment agreements; and
• journeypersons do not take on additional apprentices.

This is the first step in the Manitoba government’s improvement of the apprenticeship program, creating good jobs for Manitobans and reaching its commitment of creating 10,000 skilled labour jobs, noted the minister. The government is also fulfilling its commitment to do a review of the operations of Apprenticeship Manitoba to look for efficiencies and modernization. That work is ongoing and stakeholder consultation will begin next month, the minister added.

“A modernized and responsive apprenticeship training and certification system is good for workers, grows industry and moves our province forward,” said Moses. “These changes will ensure Manitoba continues to provide an attractive market to meet the growing demands for skilled labour of the future.”

For more information on Manitoba’s apprenticeship and certification system and recent regulatory updates, visit www.gov.mb.ca/aesi/apprenticeship/index.html.

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