Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today, I am going to talk about the past, the present, and what the future may hold for trades in my community.
As far back as grade six, I can remember being introduced to the trade of carpentry. I can remember Mr. Gordon teaching us the basic skills in our options class. As I moved through the grades, I remember shop, automotive, and other trades offered to students. There was even a stream in our school for those who were more interested in the trades to focus solely in this area. It was a practical program within the senior high school.
Today, if we are lucky to have a teacher in our school who can teach the trades in combination with other classes, like math, English, or science, we will offer some intro to trades in our school.
How do we get more youth interested in carpentry, welding, mechanics, or to become an electrician or any other trade, if we are not exposing these to them or providing support for those who are interested in trades? Yes, I know, Mr. Speaker, students need to achieve an education level high enough to pass these trades exams and apprentice programs to obtain their journeyman certificate. I feel that, if we were giving them the opportunities to experience these areas, it may empower them to achieve what they need in their education.
In my community of Inuvik, we have trades trailers that were purchased in partnership with our local Indigenous groups and the GNWT, but they seem to do more sitting than using.
Within the past few weeks and months of briefings from the departments, and budgets, and looking at future capital projects, I am afraid that we will be continuing to use out-of-territory workers to complete these projects.
I want the Minister of Education to look at how we can increase the opportunities for trades to our youth, as well as support our local small businesses to apprentice them throughout the years that it takes to obtain their journeyman certificates. The current funding is only for two years. My understanding of this reason from the department is that they make money for the company in their third and fourth years. Small businesses face a lot more expenses and try to keep people working, even when the economy is slow, and in our community, there is not much going on.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker, and I will have questions for the Minister of ECE.