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January 10, 2012

Prime Minister Harper Visits Lodge 146

On January 6, 2012, Prime Minister Stephen Harper announced the Helmet to Hardhats (H2H) Canada Program at Lodge 146 Training Center in Edmonton. The Prime Minster said "The Government of Canada is committed to supporting our Veterans by providing them with the support they need, when and where they need it." He further added "This includes providing them with skills and job opportunities to transition from military to civilian life."

H2H Canada is a partnership with Canada's Building Trades Unions, their fair Employers and the Canadian Government, designed to assist transiting veterans/reservists and disabled veterans/reservists into construction industry opportunities by way of an apprenticeship program, full acceptance as a qualified journeyperson, entry level management and other leadership opportunities.

International Vice-President of Western Canada, Joe Maloney, who speared headed the program here in Canada and the one who developed the American program in 2003, spoke at the event. He said "We in the Building Trades offer the best jobs in the construction industry, we are very proud of the fact that we have the best pay, have the best benefits, the safest job sites and the fairest contractors". He further commented "The bottom line is, for what they do for us, this is the right thing to do."

TransCanada donated $1 million over five years to support the Canadian Veterans returning to work. "Our partnership with Helmets to Hardhats is a logical extension of our relationship with Canada's Building Trades Unions to build our country and its infrastructure. We are proudly supporting men and women who have served their country with bravery and honour. They deserve our gratitude, our dedication and our support," said Russ Girling, TransCanada's President and Chief Executive Officer."

Bob Blakely, Director of the Canadian Building Trades, said "The Building Trades build, maintain and respect this country. We are pro-defense, pro-oil sands, pro-economic growth, pro-pipeline and pro-competition." He further added, "We're the best at what we do and you only remain the best by attracting the best. That is why we are reaching out to transitioning Canadian Forces veterans and serving reservists."

The Province of Alberta matched the federal government's contribution of $150,000 to support the H2H Canada program.

The Building Trades and their contractors worked together to provide the best military provisions anywhere in their collective agreements, along with state of the art training and upgrading facilities throughout Canada to assist the veterans. Canada's Building Trades spend about $250 million annually on training and have a $650 million training infrastructure. The program is set to begin in the spring of 2012.

Before the announcement, three members of Local 146 had the opportunity to meet with the Prime Minister to explain more about the trade. Pictured left (from left to right): Rob Kerr is a journeyman welder and has been practicing his TIG welding at the learning center while working at Edmonton Exchanger shop. Evan Wendland is in a registered apprentice program and is in grade 12 at a local high school. Josh Avery is a journeyman welder who works at the learning center.

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