May 25, 2021 – The Government of Canada is providing close to $5 million over five years to the National Electrical Trade Council (NETCO) for the project Online Apprentice Support Initiatives for Success (OASIS), under the Innovation in Apprenticeship Stream of the Union Training & Innovation Program.

The OASIS project will support training in the electrical trades and prepare apprentices to succeed as trade workers, says NETCO, adding it will work in partnership with several training providers in the electrical trades to support participants from communities in New Brunswick, Saskatchewan and Ontario.

OASIS has three main objectives:

• Increase support for apprentices at each level of their apprenticeship toward attaining their certificate by creating an online national comprehensive learning management system.

• Improve knowledge in areas such as academic upgrading and essential skills for union electrical apprentices, pre-apprenticeship in underrepresented groups and employers.

• Provide access to “innovative green energy programs” that will expose apprentices to the latest technologies in this evolving sector.

“NETCO looks forward to delivering a strong training program in conjunction with our partner organizations, including Saskatchewan Polytechnic, Buildforce Canada, Skill Plan, Indigenous Works, the Canadian Electrical Contractors Association, Employment & Social Development Canada, and the IBEW,” said Melissa Young, executive director.