The Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce (GCACC) co-sponsored two policy resolutions to address local workforce challenges at the recent Canadian Chamber of Commerce AGM. Both resolutions were widely endorsed by delegates, representing 450 chambers across the country. The resolution recommendations align with GCACC’s advocacy efforts to support workforce development through quality education, skills training and immigration.
The co-sponsored resolutions and recomendations are:
Canada’s Basic Skills Shortfall
Sponsored by the Regina Chamber of Commerce, co-sponsored by the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce and the Surrey Board of Trade
- Build and implement competency frameworks to identify skill levels and competencies required by jobs in the economy and embed literacy in all workforce training and education initiatives;
- Mandate the new Future Skills Centre to include cognitive skills in its research and implementation programs; and,
- Ensure that each of our province’s K-12 and post-secondary institutions offer an adequate number of opportunities to learn and upgrade their literacy, numeracy, problem-solving skills & other essential skills.
Measures to Avert Growing Labour Shortages in Trucking Industry
Sponsored by the Atlantic Chamber of Commerce, co-sponsored by the Greater Charlottetown Area Chamber of Commerce
- Change the national occupational classification from unskilled to skilled in recognition of the training and knowledge required to be a commercial truck driver, and ensure recognition by all branches of government, standards councils, and others who certify trades and base their programs on NOC codes;
- In coordination with provincial and territorial governments and provincial and national trucking associations, support development of a minimum standard of accreditation for commercial driving programs, including apprenticeship-like programs delivered through accredited commercial driving schools;
- In coordination with provincial and territorial governments and provincial and national trucking associations, establish a national requirement of successful completion of an accredited driving program prior to qualifying for licencing examinations; and
- In coordination with provincial and territorial governments and provincial and national trucking associations implement a program of mandatory ongoing training and/or recertification (e.g., Transportation of Dangerous Goods Act, pre-trip inspection, load security, hours of service) throughout a driver’s career.
GCACC Board President, Dawn Binns during Canadian Chamber policy resolution debates