Unions and manufacturing professionals are looking forward to working with the federal government to enhance training opportunities for advanced manufacturing.
Minister Patty Hajdu visited Windsor on Tuesday, meeting with members of Unifor Local 444 and announcing the creation of a new workforce alliance.
"Industries, for a long time, have been calling for this, and what we are hoping to see is a better integration and better labour attachment from people who are coming out of skills training," said Hajdu.
She indicated that over the next six months, they will be inviting industry partners, universities and colleges, and other training partners to participate in the alliance.
"This is really going to try and pull together both the employer experience but also the employee experience of getting those skills in place before they start that search [for a job]," said Hajdu.
Unifor Local 444 President James Stewart said any initiative that keeps the conversation between workers and the government going is a good one.
"Making sure that we have the things in place for not just new workers, but workers that are finding themselves on the outs. You could be at the end of your career but not ready for retirement yet, you lose your job, no fault of your own, making sure there is training in place and the right training to make sure those workers are protected," said Stewart.
The government also launched workforce alliance groups in housing and construction, transportation and supply chains, energy and electricity, mining and minerals, and the care economy.
