b"FROM OUR PRESIDENTApprenticeship: Changes ComingEvery profession has some type of a learning mentorship program which recognizes that, in addition to classroom learning, a great deal of required knowledge comes from actually doing the work alongside someone who has mastered the skills. This is true of doctors, lawyers, engineers and tradespeople.Governments have recognized the value of supporting trades education through Provincial and Territorial Apprenticeship Programs and a curriculum that is aligned with other provinces. Apprenticeship Manitobathe operational side of the systemregisters apprentices and employers, purchases class time from the colleges and tracks apprentices as they progress. Sounds pretty straightforward, right? Why, then, does it seem that the system is in a constant state of upheaval? Why are significant changes sprung on people that should be involved in their design and application? Enter Manitoba's Bill 61 in the spring of 2021, legislation which will hopefully address some of our concerns. WCA spoke in support of this Bill in April and we were pleased to see it proclaimed in June.The Apprenticeship and Certification Board provides overall guidance for the system, but does not actually direct Apprenticeship Manitoba. We have commented on this obvious deficiency for years and it remains unaddressed in Bill 61. Bill 61 does, however, provide for a slightly smaller board, recommends specific skill sets for directors and insists on a five-year strategic plan. Bill 61 removes the Standing Committees, but more importantly, it eliminates the long suffering Provincial Advisory Committees (PAC) that existed for each trade. PACs will be replaced by one or more industry sector groups, and while we have not seen terms of reference, we would anticipate these groups would consider curriculum, trade-related issues and reference wages, all captured under new trade bylaws. There is a lot of work to do here over the next year as the changes are rolled out. We are most concerned about recruiting good representatives for the industry committee(s), that the rules of engagement are crystal clear and that these groups get the support they need from Apprenticeship and the many industry associations which represent them. We will be looking to industry for willing board members who can contribute to the creation of an effective strategic plan and provide oversight to the system. And finally, we will be looking for apprenticeship performance datalong absentwhich will allow us to measure our success in creating needed construction tradespeople in the correct numbers and not generating over-supply inspecific trades.Our expectations are high here and there is a lot at stakeapproximately 6,600 of the 11,000 registered apprentices work in our construction industry. We must get this right.Ronald Hambley, President8 BUILD MANITOBAwinnipegconstruction.ca"