b'The Manitoba Construction Sector Council (MCSC) is already Address systemic barriers for mature students seekingleading this work. Its Mature Student Status High Schoolhigh school accreditation in the north.Diploma/college micro-credential programs provide short, targeted, industry-driven training towards an apprenticeshipMANITOBA NEEDS A WORKFORCE STRATEGY TO DELIVER career pathway, including: WHATS COMING The message from Building Big was unmistakable: owners Targeted support and training for Indigenous people,are planning earlier, delivering differently and pushing hard newcomers, women and youth to construction careers; for collaboration, but none of it matters without a workforceCarpentry, water and wastewater installation, glazier, large and skilled enough to execute.interior finishing and heavy construction training; and A province-wide Construction Workforce StrategybuiltNorthern and community-based delivery streams.on modern apprenticeship ratios, completion incentives, These programs create fast pathways for new workers andflexible learning and scaled micro-credentialsis now upskilling options for existing onesincreasing labouressential to delivering the projects already fundedsupply within weeks, not years. and announced.A provincial strategy should: Manitoba has the momentum. Manitoba has the projects.Expand and fund MCSCs Mature Student Status HighNow, we need the people. School Diploma/college micro-credential deliveryacross Manitoba; Create stackable pathways from micro-credentials into apprenticeships; Support hybrid, mobile, evening and community-basedtraining options; Work with employers to target training to emerging skill gaps; and Darryl Harrisonwcb.mb.ca/safeworkmanitobaIssue 4 | Winter Edition | 2025 BUILD MANITOBA 9'