| LEGISLATIVE
ASSEMBLY OF ONTARIO
Official
Record of Debate
(Hansard)
WOMEN
IN SKILLED TRADES PROGRAM
June
12, 2002
Mr
Ted Arnott (Waterloo-Wellington): My question is for
the Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities.
The minister recently announced funding for the women
in skilled trades program at Conestoga College in Kitchener,
and we very much appreciated her visit to our community
last week.
We
know that economic independence is an important issue
for everyone in Ontario. This is both a social and an
economic issue. By being able to support themselves
and their families, women are not only making a greater
contribution to our economic growth, but they also have
more choices themselves and are less likely to become
trapped in abusive relationships or circumstances.
For
everyone's benefit, we need more women qualified and
working in the skilled trades in Ontario. Can you inform
the House about the women in skilled trades program
and the work it is doing to increase the number of women
working in non-traditional careers?
Hon
Dianne Cunningham (Minister of Training, Colleges and
Universities, minister responsible for women's issues):
We're very excited about having more women enter apprenticeship
training programs, where right now they are significantly
underrepresented. They should know that these are great-paying
jobs and that we need them.
Just
last week I was at Conestoga College -- a great success
story -- with my colleague the Minister of Community
and Social Services and Mr Wettlaufer. We have more
than one letter, but this is basically what one says:
"I
have been in the construction electrical trade since
1974. I was a foreman for over 20 years and I am now
employed as a project manager. Of the more than a couple
of hundred electricians that I have worked with over
the years, the number of women I have met could be counted
on only both hands. However, they were all good electricians.
I can only imagine how hard it was for them to be successful,
but believe me, over those years, I've seen a lot more
unskilled men."
You
should know that even this professional wants more women
in the skilled trades.
Mr
Arnott: I know we all agree with that answer. We certainly
extend our congratulations to the women participating
in the women in skilled trades program at colleges and
training institutes across Ontario and hope for their
continued success.
In
addition to the skilled trades, women need greater representation
in the information technology industry, a source of
much of our province's growth in recent years. The information
technology sector offers rewarding and well-paying jobs
and is currently experiencing a shortage of qualified
workers. Can the minister tell us what the ministry
is doing to encourage and prepare more Ontario women
for careers in the high-technology sector?
1450
Interjection.
Hon
Mrs Cunningham: "Now," says the former mayor
of Kingston, who supports women in information technology
and has jokes in the House.
We
actually have a great pilot program. My colleagues and
I across the country, ministers responsible for women's
issues, are working together. The government actually
invests over $2 million over three years. It is a beginning,
but it is dealing with people who have a very difficult
time in technology, giving them every opportunity we
can give them.
They
are in four sites in Ontario where there are high concentrations
of high-tech industry so that they'll have a lot of
mentors and opportunities to participate in the workforce.
It does target low-income women, because if they get
a second chance, a third chance, if we reach out to
them, they will be successful.
Of
course, my writer says, "I applaud your vision."
People don't say that to me very often, so I'm reading
it.
In
my opinion, there simply will not be enough potential
tradesmen to meet tomorrow's demands if only young men
are encouraged to apprentice. It is time for an intelligent
investment in women's education by all the women in
this House, which we support, to begin to fill the void
on behalf of young women.
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