New Apprenticeship Act Proclaimed

New general regulations, leading to improved and increased training opportunities for apprentices, will accompany the new Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Act which has been proclaimed and goes into effect Tuesday, July 1.

"Apprentices and people who want to work in the trades will be able to access more training and be assured the training they receive meets industry's requirements," said Education Minister Angus MacIsaac. "There is a growing need for qualified tradespeople in the province, and the new act paves the way for Nova Scotians to enjoy successful careers in trade professions."

The new act gives industry a more direct role in designing and updating training so that apprentices are better able to meet needs of industry. The new legislation includes, for the fist time, youth apprenticeship, pre-employment training, skills upgrading and skills enhancement training.

"The new Apprenticeship Act is a sign of good things to come and demonstrates that both government and industry are committed to improving apprenticeship in Nova Scotia," said Stephen Vaslet, chair of the Provincial Apprenticeship Board. "With a broader system approach and more sections of training for apprentices, we are now moving towards a comprehensive approach to skill shortages in the province."

The new act was developed through public consultation with industry stakeholders over a two-year period and was introduced on April 4. The last significant update to the act was in 1989.

Improvements to the apprenticeship system are part of the province's Skills Nova Scotia initiative. The initiative involves meeting the skill demands of Nova Scotia's labour market, providing better labour market access and support and strengthening Nova Scotia's system of lifelong learning opportunities.