Ontario still has not come forward with a concrete plan, and once they do, we will be more than willing to support the initiative. But we need some specific details on how they intend to move forward,” said Hajdu.

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http://www.standard-freeholder.com/2018/04/04/federal-government-announces-102-million-for-union-training-at-morrisburg-training-institute

Federal government announces $10.2 million for union training at Morrisburg training institute

By Alan S. Hale, Cornwall Standard-Freeholder

Wednesday, April 4, 2018 6:51:12 EDT PM

Labour Minister Patty Hajdu tries her hand at using a simulator during her visit to the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario to announce almost $1 million in federal funding on Wednesday April 4, 2018 in Morrisburg, Ont.

Alan S. Hale/Cornwall Standard-Freeholder/Postmedia Network

MORRISBURG - Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour Patricia Hajdu announced $936,000 in funding on Wednesday that will be used by the International Union of Operating Engineers local 793 to buy new equipment for the Morrisburg and Oakville campuses of its training institute.

The union and its student body at the Operating Engineers Training Institute of Ontario in Morrisburg were very pleased by Hajdu’s announcement. But union executives made use of their chance to bend the minister’s ear about issues important to them, such as the Ring of Fire development and foreign competition from countries such as China.

The money going to the training institutes is part of a larger $10.2-million investment the federal government is making from its Union Training and Innovation Program. During her speech, the labour minister spoke glowingly of accomplishments of organized labour in general and touted the Liberal government’s pro-union policies

“We are very excited about working with labour movements so that all across Canada, we will have strong, organized labour that will represent Canadians’ interests every single time,” said Hajdu to much applause.

The union-run training institutes accept students from all over Ontario who come to learn how to use heavy machinery; everything from common power shovels to much more specialized equipment. The money announced on Wednesday will be used to purchase more equipment for them to use during their education.

At the Morrisburg campus, part of the funding will be spent on purchasing six new bulldozers that will be equipped with laser system designed to accurately achieve very specific grades when moving earth around. The money will also be spent on a state-of-the-art mobile crane which will be sent to the Oakville campus for students there to train on.

“When I took around (the Morrisburg campus) I saw modern equipment such as simulators and GPS systems. This is the way of the future,” said the Minister. “Making sure that unions are training on the most modern equipment is really critical.”

During Hajdu’s tour of the campus, union executives brought up their desire to see the Ring of Fire finally move forward and, ideally, that the construction of the $1-billion project to build a highway up to the chromite deposit and neighbouring First Nations in Northern Ontario will provide jobs for their members and students.

“It is very important to our members regarding jobs and the Indigenous students that we train that they get to work close to their own communities,” said Mike Gallagher, the union’s business manager and international vice-president. “This is a major for us for 10 years or more. The minister told us that the federal government will be there, and we found that encouraging.”

Progress on getting the Ring of Fire development a reality has been largely stalled for years as the provincial and federal governments continue to argue the other is the one holding the process up. Hajdu didn’t deviate from that line on Wednesday.

“Ontario still has not come forward with a concrete plan, and once they do, we will be more than willing to support the initiative. But we need some specific details on how they intend to move forward,” said Hajdu.

When the Standard-Freeholder noted that is essentially the same answer the federal government has been giving for years, the minister replied:

“It really is the only answer the federal government can have, which is why you have been hearing it for years.”

If the impasse keeping the Ring of Fire development in limbo is finally overcome, another issue that the union raised with the minister on Wednesday was their concern that foreign companies — particularly Chinese firms — would attempt to bring in workers from their home countries instead of hiring Canadian workers. Gallagher said it was critical the government make sure that does not happen.

“That’s not to say we have some kind of anti-foreigner bias or anything like that. It just makes sense, because we wouldn’t be able to go to China, for example, and build a road; it would never happen. I think what’s good for the goose is good for the gander,” he said. “We are encouraging the government to keep their eye on the ball during those (trade agreement) discussions. We don’t mind competition, but you have to play by the rules we have in Canada.”

The Liberal government has a stated interest in negotiating a free trade agreement with China, but Hajdu says that a trade deal with that country and protections for Canadian workers are not incompatible.

“We’ll make sure that whenever we negotiate any trade deals, we will keep the well-being of Canadians at the forefront,” she said. “When it comes to trade deals, labour is something that is often hotly contested. But what I can tell you is that we always protect the right of Canadians to have the work first, and then we look for solutions with other countries for any labour shortages we might have. “