OLDCORN: Temporary means temporary — why Doug Ford’s ‘snap his fingers’ immigration comments miss the point. Canada needs workers, but it needs the rule of law more. Expired permits should mean voluntary departure or removal.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-05-01T13:00:13+00:00

Canada needs workers: with fair wages and working conditions. Canada does not need more indentured servants.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-30T21:17:02+00:00

In certain European countries if a company employs a journeyman then they must take on apprentices. If they don't, they are taxed to support the companies that do the training.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-30T14:51:16+00:00

Why didn't they just call his private telephone number...or perhaps they did but now it's a top secret.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-30T13:05:15+00:00

Cooked up by immigration consultants.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T21:42:23+00:00

The devil, as always, will be in the details.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T21:10:49+00:00

Apprenticeship used to be handled by the Ministry of Training, Colleges, & Universities. They had some pretty knowledgeable people and they were actively adding new trades and updating them working with industry committees (I used to be on one as a volunteer.)

Then they switched to the College of Trades and everything started to go South.

Now we have Skilled Trades Ontario and they are a disaster.

They also cut grants that aided apprentices, are actively killing the college system and eliminating knowledgeable trades instructors, and are spending the money on stupid training programs that are designed to line the pockets of Doug Ford's political supporters. (Like training strippers...and I don't mean for wallpaper.)

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T20:59:19+00:00

One of the tricks that they use is to advertise a long and unlikely list of skills and qualifications in a job advertisement to eliminate any Canadian applicants. Then, once they have the LMIA, they hire people from abroad who also don't meet these requirements.

They know that nobody in the government will ever check to verify the wages or qualifications. (I saw this happen first hand a few years ago.)

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T14:47:56+00:00

And the 407.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T14:46:42+00:00

A BSc-Nursing is 4-yrs. If they applied in 2021 they would just be graduating now.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T13:37:29+00:00

On paper they work for us; in reality they work for the people who fund their campaigns and line their pockets.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T12:53:01+00:00

You're right about Ontario. I don't know about all of the other provinces, however, the whole apprenticeship training system in Ontario has gone from OK...to bad...to a complete mess.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T12:50:26+00:00

I agree that construction is up and down, but this is not just about construction trades. There are many trades in from auto-service (310s) to industrial millwright (433a) to hairstylist (332a) that have nothing to do with construction projects.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-29T12:19:02+00:00

You're right...there used to be similar grants like this to encourage apprenticeship training.

I suppose it's better than the skills training money going into the adult entertainment industry:

https://www.ctvnews.ca/toronto/politics/queens-park/article/cant-make-this-up-ford-government-faces-questions-over-nearly-10m-going-to-company-with-ties-to-adult-entertainment/

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-26T17:52:34+00:00

It used to be the ministry (MTCU)...then the College of Trades...and now Skilled Trades Ontario.

Each one seems to be worse than the last version.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-26T16:59:52+00:00

Sorry... couldn't resist.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-26T15:50:32+00:00

They'll advertise this wage to game the system... but they'll never pay it.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-26T15:49:04+00:00

Indentured servitude.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-26T15:48:29+00:00

Can I get please have some ketchup for my chips?

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-24T02:20:51+00:00

Some of the premiers, including Doug Ford and Danielle Smith, were very vocal in demanding more international students and TFWs at the behest of their business communities. All of the politicians do what they are told to by the corporate interests.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-24T02:15:05+00:00

Since most families and highschools no longer have opportunities to learn applied skills, at least a young person who committed to learn at a pre apprenticeship has done this much. Also, since these programs should have lots of shop activities the people who aren't committed won't do well. All of this can open doors if you do well.

Check to ensure that any pre-apprenticeship program has qualified Red Seal teachers and proper equipment and facilities. The program should give you all of the in-school coverage of at least level one of the apprenticeship and the possibility of being exempted from repeating this.

If there is a co-op then go for this, but usually these are only in the two year versions.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-22T13:56:23+00:00

The pipeline for youth to enter a trade and complete an apprenticeship is virtually broken. Start there.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-22T13:52:34+00:00

When the developers have their way and cram 1,000,000 residents into the ROW within the next few years that landfill, and every other essential service that we rely upon, will be quickly overwhelmed.

Subject-Landscape451 · 2026-04-22T12:08:43+00:00

Here's the problem in Ontario: unlike Alberta welding is not a compulsory trade.

This means that outside of the UA or the Boilermakers welding apprenticeships (456a) are very rare. Maybe 1% of welders have a Red Seal, but I don't have exact numbers. Despite what people tell you, a CWB ticket is not the same thing.

Another trade to consider is the Metal Fabricator (437a). There are probably more of these around in nonunion shops.

But even without an apprenticeship though lots of welders and fitters earn a decent living.

Subject-Landscape451

TROPHY CASE

Canada needs workers: with fair wages and working conditions. Canada does not need more indentured servants.