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The Canadian Council for Aviation & Aerospace, (CCAA) welcomes Minister Oliver’s initiatives for the Aerospace industry, and congratulates the Aerospace Industries Association of Canada, (AIAC), for its successful efforts to secure the federal funding necessary to increase support for the skilled trades in aviation and aerospace, as presented in the Economic Action Plan 2015. Two significant initiatives receiving funding are the Canadian Supply Chain development program, and funding for associations to work with industry and post-secondary institutions to align curricula to employers’ needs.
The highly skilled Canadian workforce is a major reason the aerospace industry in Canada is a world leader. These new initiatives will help ensure the Canadian industry remains strong for the coming decades. “The efforts of Jim Quick, President and CEO of AIAC, and his team, have assured that skills training, and the development of the supply chain in Canada will continue to meet industry needs,” said Robert Donald, executive director of CCAA.
CCAA will continue to work with AIAC to implement strategies which respond to recommendations made by the Emerson Aerospace Review’s People and Skills committee. The two organizations share the vision of assisting a proven workforce maintain its competitive advantage through constant upgrading of skills and alignment of education with industry needs. In aerospace, high skills are requisite for building each and every component perfectly; from landing gear to the International Space Station.
Taking action in accordance with the recommendations of the Emerson Committee on Canadian aerospace skills and development means connecting experienced and knowledgeable people from, industry, training institutions and government. CCAA’s experience in developing respected competency standards, curricula and skills development strategies complements the work, resources, and mandate of AIAC. As noted in the Emerson report, preservation and continuing development of Canada’s existing highly-skilled aerospace workforce is key to remaining competitive in this valuable industry.
