N.W.T. education officials open to Poilievre's proposed trades program for high school students

Some education officials in the N.W.T. say they're open to federal Conservative Leader Pierre Poilievre'sidea of a new pre-trades program for students, but it isn't clear yet how that program would work alongside what's already in place in the N.W.T.

At a rally in Yellowknife on the weekend, Poilievrepromisedto introduce a pre-trades program for N.W.T. high school studentsif his party wins the next election.

"Imagine if we said that we get the Red Seal council, that has been in place for 74 years, [and] put together a high school module for every licensed trade,"Poilievresaid, referring to the certification programfor tradespeople across Canada.

A similar program already exists in the N.W.T.: the Schools North Apprenticeship Program (SNAP), which has been running since 1995.

Dean McInnis, principal of cole Sir John Franklin High School in Yellowknife, says schools work with the education department to set up pre-apprenticeship training for students. Those studentsget work experience in the trades with local businesses as a first step toward Red Seal certification.

"We have had kids in automotive, parts, plumbing, and electrical, those kinds of organizations in town," McInnis said.

It's not clear yet how the Conservative leader's proposed program would work alongside what's already in place in the N.W.T., and with education being a territorial responsibility.In an email to CBC News, a Conservative Party spokesperson saiddetails of the plan wouldbe revealed ahead of the next election.

N.W.T. Education Minister Caitlin Cleveland saidshe is open to discussing more support for trades with whoever Canadians choose as the next government.

"I'm very interested in supporting this, if it means the Northwest Territories receives additional support for trades across the territory," Cleveland said.

Cleveland said there is a need for more skilled tradespeople in the territory, to help address the demand for housing and critical infrastructure.

Need for budget boosters for high school pre-trades programs

Cindy Kimove, assistant principal of career and trades development at Yellowknife's cole St. Patrick High School,said Poilievre's pitchis an interesting onethat could help high school students pursuing trades.

"If it offered subsidized training programs or housing for students who need to travel to go to trades programs, anything like that, I think would be really helpful," Kimovesaid.

She said her school has had an in-house trades program for 20 years: the Kimberlite Career and Technical Centre. It offers welding and metalwork, mechanics, power technology, carpentryand woodworking, to name a few.

"It's run directly by the school, but kids take our classes and then determine that they're interested in the SNAP program," Kimovesaid.

She explained that after this, counsellors from the education department connect the students to a SNAP placement in the community.

Kimovesaid one essential way the federal government could help promote trades among the youth is by providing grants and budget boosterstohigh schools that offersuchprograms.

"We could really use funding for things like consumables. If we're teaching carpentry, nails are really expensive. Getting those things for students, and getting enough for everyone to try," Kimovesaid.

She said there is a shortage of tradespeople in the North, and this could help steer students to fill that void.

Interest in trades has increased

A territorial governmentofficial says the number of high school students interested in trades has increased significantly in recent years.

Steve St. Pierre, the director of labour development and standards at the N.W.T. government, said the number of students registering for the SNAP program has increased significantly overthe last few years.

"We've seen a substantial increase in participation, growing from no students in the program in 2016 to 54 as of last month so that's a positive sign," St. Pierre said.

He attributes this growth to extensive promotion and efforts by education advisers in communities to raiseinterest in trades among students,as well asincreased outreach to employers.