Apprenticeship Manitoba

Apprenticeship Ratios

• Regulatory Changes to the Apprenticeship and Certification System
• Frequently Asked Questions 1:1 Apprentice-to-Journeyperson Ratio

Apprenticeship Regulatory Changes

• Ration & Supervision Change
• Gasfitter Regulatory Update
• Plumber Regulatory Update
• Refrigeration & Air-Conditioning Mechanic Regulatory Update
• Steamfitter - Pipefitter Regulatory Update

Gasfitter Certification and Related Piping Trades

The regulatory changes involving Gasfitter Certification remove the 2nd level of the B Gas certification from Plumbing, Steamfitter - Pipefitter and both Residential and Commercial Refrigeration & Air Conditioning Mechanics trade programs. The impacted trades will transition from a 5-level apprenticeship to 4 effective March 18th. MCAM's Gasfitter Certification Working Group(consisting of a cross-section of the membership) & industry partners spent countless hours advocating with Apprenticeship Manitoba and department staff, emphasizing the need for dual certification within the Manitoba market.Apprenticeship Board recommendation have been accepted. MCAM continues to work with our industry partners for government to pause implementation and re-engage industry. Despite industry efforts, Apprenticeship Board recommendation have been accepted. MCAM Contractors maintains the deskilling of Manitoba tradespeople will:

• Result in a negative impact on gainful year-round employment.
• Increase costs to the consumer.
• Create a shortage of certified gasfitters in the long-term.

Justification by Apprenticeship and department staff have sited harmonization, labour mobility and consultation survey results as being the basis for change. MCAM maintains:

• Harmonization is not achieved.
• Systemic change should not be utilized to address exceptional issues such as labour mobility. Reasonable solutions include incorporating flexibility in the system and working with provincial counterparts to address exceptional scenarios.
• Consultation itself while a tool for implementing change, does not justify change and requires detailed, dimensional analysis.
• The consultation itself demonstrated 4% support of the industry supports change: not acceptable.