Connect with us

Technology

Call for Proposals: Investing in Green and Innovative Union Training for Thousands of Tradespeople

Published

on

GATINEAU, QC, June 21, 2024 /CNW/ – Canadian tradespeople are working hard to ensure Canada wins the global race for economic opportunity, as we advance towards net-zero while also charting a path to sustainably building over 3.8 million new homes by 2031. The Government of Canada is investing to ensure our workforce is ready to help build these homes, clean power plants, electric vehicles, and much more.

Today, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, the Honourable Randy Boissonnault, alongside Ministers Wilkinson and O’Regan, launched a call for proposals under the new Sustainable Jobs Stream of the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy’s Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP). An investment of over $95 million over five years will help unions and their partners provide green training to approximately 20,000 apprentices and journeypersons. This call for proposals will be open until September 5, 2024.

As part of this funding, a separate agreement with the Government of Quebec will support the Province in implementing a program that accounts for the unique features of Quebec’s apprenticeship system. The activities funded in Quebec will align with those delivered elsewhere in Canada.

Through this investment, tradespeople will be better equipped to keep pace with the job skills that are in high demand, as industries shift to low-carbon alternatives, and global partners seek to buy Canadian clean technologies. This call for proposals complements the investment in the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund, which support tens of thousands of workers to upgrade or gain new skills for jobs in the low-carbon economy.

The UTIP Sustainable Jobs Stream is part of a new focus under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy to respond to the skilled trades workforce’s most pressing needs, including addressing barriers to successful entry, supporting progression and completion of apprenticeship, addressing the housing crisis, and increasing net-zero construction to unlock Canada’s economic potential.

To help address the growing need for skilled trades workers, Budget 2024 announced the Government’s intention to deliver a historic $90 million investment for the Apprenticeship Service to support small and medium-sized employers in creating placements for apprentices and $10 million for the Skilled Trades Awareness and Readiness Program to encourage Canadians to explore and prepare for careers in the skilled trades.

The Government of Canada invests nearly $1 billion annually in apprenticeship supports through grants, loans, tax credits, Employment Insurance benefits during in-school training, project funding, and support for the Red Seal program to help build a robust skilled trades workforce for the future that is inclusive, certified and productive.

As part of the Government of Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Plan, today’s call for proposals under the Union Training and Innovation Program represents a vital contribution to a suite of measures that is unlocking Canadian leadership in growing low-carbon industries, and creating good-paying, sustainable jobs from coast to coast to coast. 

Quotes

Skilled tradespeople carry out crucial work to reduce our greenhouse gas emissions. Investing in the Sustainable Jobs Stream will help thousands of workers across Canada develop the skills needed for green jobs – meaning more work for Canadians and a lower carbon footprint for the country.”
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Official Languages, The Honourable Randy Boissonnault

“Canadian workers and industries are seizing economic opportunities as we build thriving low-carbon industries and more sustainable communities. This call for proposals under the Union Training and Innovation Program will contribute to Canada’s Sustainable Jobs plan while equipping more Canadian tradespeople with the skills and supports they need to build a more prosperous and sustainable future for Canada.”
– Minister of Energy and Natural Resources, The Honourable Jonathan Wilkinson

“There are so many new jobs and new opportunities in Canadian energy. Workers want in. They’re ready to lead the world and build Canada’s prosperous future. With training led by workers themselves, they will.”
– Minister of Labour and Seniors, The Honourable Seamus O’Regan Jr

Quick Facts

The UTIP Sustainable Jobs Stream and the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund are part of Canada’s comprehensive sustainable jobs approach, as outlined in the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act and interim Sustainable Jobs Plan for 2023–2025, which guides Canada’s efforts to move to a net-zero emissions economy.Bill C-50, the Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act has now received Royal Assent, paving the way for workers, industries, Indigenous peoples and other Canadians to engage with Canada’s Sustainable Jobs Partnership Council and Secretariat in the development of the 2025 Sustainable Jobs Action Plan. This historic legislation holds current and future governments accountable while charting a path for Canadian workers to thrive and succeed on the path to a more sustainable and prosperous future.Some examples of industries where tradespeople with green training are required include in low-carbon building construction, clean energy deployment, and across the zero-emission vehicles and battery supply chain. Home retrofits and new builds increasingly require construction workers to be equipped with specialized skills to work on energy efficient high-performing buildings. Automotive service technicians need skills to work with electric and hybrid vehicles.According to a Canadian Labour Congress and Pembina Institute report, clean energy jobs could make up approximately 10% of employment, or a total of 2 million direct and indirect jobs, in a 2050 net-zero scenario.The Royal Bank of Canada estimates that building a net-zero-emissions economy could create up to 400,000 new jobs in Canada by the end of this decade alone.According to data from the Education and Labour Market Longitudinal Platform, more than half of apprentices in Red Seal trades in Canada in 2021 worked in the construction sector, the majority of which contributed to the construction of homes.BuildForce Canada’s data suggests the residential construction sector will be short 41,200 workers over the next 10 years.According to a 2022 Royal Bank report, approximately 40% of new jobs in the trades, transport and equipment occupations will need an enhanced skillset.

Associated Links

UTIP Sustainable Jobs Stream – Apply for funding
About the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy
About the Union Training and Innovation Program
Sustainable Jobs Training Fund
Sustainable Jobs – Natural Resources Canada
Canada’s 2030 Emissions Reduction Plan
Budget 2024
Canada.ca/skilled-trades

Follow us on Twitter

Backgrounder

Union Training and Innovation Program – Sustainable Jobs Stream

The Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) is delivered under the Canadian Apprenticeship Strategy, which aims to support a trade workforce that is skilled, inclusive, certified and productive. UTIP supports union-based apprenticeship training, innovation and enhanced partnerships in the Red Seal trades.

The new Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) Sustainable Jobs Stream supports the Government’s Canadian Sustainable Jobs Act and interim 2023-2025 Sustainable Jobs Plan and will invest $95 million over five years to fund projects that support unions in leading the development of green training for workers in the trades.

Projects will: 

develop and deliver green training for journeypersons and apprentices in the Red Seal trades that will help to reduce Canada’s emissions, enhance partnerships in the Red Seal trades to support a robust trade and apprenticeship ecosystem in Canada. 

Green training aims to:

support the development of knowledge, competencies and experience needed to enable environmental sustainability of economic activities;contribute to reducing pollution;contribute to natural resources conservation; or,support sustainable and resource-efficient projects.

Green training can include: 

technical knowledge and skills that are specialized and specific, often required to perform new tasks or jobs as a result of changes in greener technologies, practices, or standards. For example, skills to install and maintain heat pumps.knowledge of environmental sustainability concepts, systems, processes, or practices, such as environmental regulations, resource-efficient production processes and systems, environmental awareness, or waste management, to support the application and adaptation of current trade activities, skills, and knowledge. For example, industrial Mechanics (Millwrights) will gain knowledge on renewable energy systems, such as hydroelectric generation plants or wind turbines, to install, repair, and maintain equipment.

As part of this funding, a separate agreement with the Government of Quebec (in French only)  will support the Province in implementing a program that accounts for the unique features of Quebec’s apprenticeship system. The activities funded in Quebec will align with those delivered elsewhere in Canada.

SOURCE Employment and Social Development Canada

Continue Reading
Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Technology

SecurityGen and NEC Team Up to Strengthen Cybersecurity Operations for Indonesian Telcos

Published

on

By

Harnessing future-ready solutions and expertise to safeguard Telecom networks against emerging threats

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — In a significant development for telecom cybersecurity, SecurityGen, an award-winning global leader in telecom cybersecurity, and PT NEC Indonesia, a leader in IT, network and AI technologies and a multi-vendor system integrator, have announced a partnership to strengthen telecom network defences across Indonesia. This alliance brings together SecurityGen’s cutting-edge security solutions and NEC’s extensive expertise in telecom infrastructure in a bid to combat a spectrum of increasingly advanced cyber threats.

The partnership aims to enhance the performance, reliability, and security of telecom networks throughout the region with SecurityGen providing future-ready threat-informed defence platform, comprising its Breach Attack platform and Monitoring system, and NEC offering crucial professional services to support and optimize these advanced security solutions. SecurityGen will also ensure rapid, effective deployments through comprehensive training and onboarding. By focusing on future-proofed solutions and fostering local talent, this partnership supports NEC’s vision of bolstering its security-as-a-service offering and solidifying its position as a trusted partner for Indonesian telcos.

This collaboration becomes even more vital given the speed with which telecom networks are evolving – making them increasingly complex and vulnerable. Unfortunately, traditional security measures are not effective enough anymore. By integrating advanced, AI-powered threat intelligence with automated security systems, this partnership aims to provide telco SOCs with unprecedented visibility into signalling traffic and robust validation against real-world attacks. This proactive approach, with in-built remediation, will not only mitigate breach risks but also equip security teams with the essential tools and expertise to counteract sophisticated cyber threats and maintain business resilience.

Amit Nath, Co-Founder & CEO of SecurityGen, said, “Our partnership with NEC is a crucial step towards fortifying Indonesia’s telecom sector with the expertise and tools essential for securing modern networks and operations. Together, we’re committed to building local competencies and implementing advanced, research-driven strategies to ensure the long-term security and resilience of the telecom infrastructure.”

Joji Yamamoto, President Director of NEC Indonesia said, “”In Indonesia, we have seen rapidly increasing growth of cloud services, and connected devices and subscribers for IoT use cases. NEC Indonesia welcomes the partnership with SecurityGen to join forces in advancing network security in Indonesia to protect information assets through the introduction and operation of measures against cyber-attacks.”

***

About SecurityGen
Founded in 2022, SecurityGen is a global leader in telecom security. We provide a solid security foundation to drive secure telecom digital transformations and ensure safe and robust network operations. Our extensive product and service portfolio offers complete protection against existing and advanced telecom security threats. www.secgen.com

About PT. NEC Indonesia

NEC first established its Jakarta Representative Office in 1968. Through the years, PT. NEC Indonesia recognized the importance of instituting telecommunications infrastructure for the country and has introduced several NEC technologies and solutions. This has resulted in PT. NEC Indonesia achieving the market leader position of being a total solutions provider for the Indonesian telecommunications industry.

Today, with its headquarters in Jakarta, PT. NEC Indonesia continues to play a significant role in providing total telecommunications and IT business solutions to its customers in the government and enterprise businesses. For more information, please visit http://id.nec.com/ 

 

 

 

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/securitygen-and-nec-team-up-to-strengthen-cybersecurity-operations-for-indonesian-telcos-302256352.html

SOURCE PT. NEC Indonesia

Continue Reading

Technology

Patricia Calderon, Global Head of Water of CDP: How to drive water action across supply chains

Published

on

By

JAKARTA, Indonesia, Sept. 24, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — This is an article from Patricia Calderon, Global Head of Water of CDP:

Supply chains are the knots that tie our global economy together and allow it to operate as it does.

In recent years those knots have become more complex and fragile.

Major trade routes can be held up by conflict, politics, or simply a container ship running aground. The world is deeply dependent on pinch points functioning with high volumes of traffic and little to no barriers. Below that level exist smaller, more intricate threads which have built up over time, across borders and through river basins.

The fragility now baked into the system is, in part, a result of our changing climate and the unsustainable nature of supply chains. Building resilience within supply chains to adapt to frequent extreme weather events is now crucial. Lessening their environmental impact is part of the same equation.

Deep dive

New research from CDP, the global non-profit leading the world’s environmental disclosure system for companies, cities, states, and regions, has examined the problem using data directly from companies.

We looked at 3,163 large companies with an annual revenue of more than EUR/ US$250 million. These companies disclosed to CDP’s annual water security questionnaire. A total of 1,542 companies – 50% – responded that they are engaging their supply chain on water risks. This includes inserting water requirements into supplier contracts, collecting water data, raising awareness of water issues, or collaborating on innovation.

Further analysis provides a unique insight into how some of the world’s largest brands are grappling with water issues. 1 in 5 companies are facing supply chain risks which could have a substantive financial or strategic impact on their business. These risks were estimated to total US$77 billion. And according to 79 businesses, a total of US$7 billion was deemed to be at immediate risk due to urgent water scarcity, food, regulatory and reputational issues.

Stem the tide

The data is clearly telling us our water supplies are becoming ever more fragile and the financial toll is mounting up. It’s down to large companies with the biggest water impacts to take immediate action, working with their suppliers to stem the tide of water risk.

Our research points to some of the tools currently being used by responsible companies – financial incentives, stricter contracts, and closer engagement are key. A group of forward-thinking businesses are already working on the problem. 443 businesses – 14% – offer their senior leaders, including the board, incentives to improve water management across the supply chain. A smaller group provide direct financial incentives to their chief procurement or purchasing officers.

Buyers and suppliers need to collaborate to ensure sustainability is a business norm. Recognizing it as a key differentiator among suppliers will be essential going forward. If we fail to address these issues the mounting financial impact of water risks will become all too apparent.

Going beyond

The report makes a strong case for companies to take immediate action on water issues in their supply chain and offers six key steps for companies. Each one of these indicators follows from the next: assess supply chain risks and impacts; set global targets; incentivize executives to act; include water in supplier requirements; engage with suppliers; and incentivize and support suppliers.

Ensuring supply chains can build resilience, reduce water risks, and keep our economies going is within reach. But to do so quickly and comprehensively we need to go beyond voluntary measures. The bar should be raised much higher in order to close the gap between where we are now and need to be.

Stronger regulation for mandatory disclosure and transparent reporting mechanisms are imperative to drive progress. This requires a combined approach with government policy, industry standards, and stakeholder engagement all playing a role.

View original content:https://www.prnewswire.com/apac/news-releases/patricia-calderon-global-head-of-water-of-cdp-how-to-drive-water-action-across-supply-chains-302254990.html

SOURCE CDP

Continue Reading

Technology

J-Stories launches special page to report on largest Japan-Taiwan summit bringing together startups and investors in the region

Published

on

By

This year’s event in Tokyo expanded to its largest scale yet amid growing interest in Taiwan’s dominant semiconductor and AI sectors

Japan’s solutions-focused news service J-Stories is an official media partner of the 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovations Summit. Here’s J-Stories’ special page where summit-related stories are featured in partnership with Startup Island TAIWAN, Taiwan’s national startup brand. J-Stories is run by Tokyo-based media agency Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting.

TOKYO, Sept. 23, 2024 /PRNewswire/ — The 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit, the largest startup event to date featuring Japanese and Taiwanese aspiring to expand overseas, was held this month (Sept.17-18) in central Tokyo. Over 1,000 participants from various sectors – including politics, academia, large business and media – engaged with approximately 70 innovative startups over the two days.

The annual summit, which started two years ago, expanded further from previous years, incorporating cutting-edge industries, including AI, biomedical science, cybersecurity, digital services, fintech, defense and aerospace.

The two-day event was co-hosted by Taiwan’s National Development Council (NDC), a government body of Taiwan, and the Tokyo Metropolitan Government. Tokyo-based media agency Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting also supported the event as the official media partner, featuring various reports and videos about the event on a special online page, bridging the gap between Taiwan’s top entrepreneurs and the startup community in Japan.

Discussed among the main topics were Taiwan’s booming semiconductor supply chain and its uninhibited growth potential within the next decade. Taiwan’s leading chipmaker, TSMC, was launched as a startup more than three decades ago with the support of the Taiwanese government. Now, the international company is building factories in southern Japan, giving those in Tokyo high hopes for Taiwan’s investments in bumping up semiconductor production capabilities and building more factories in Japan.

At this year’s summit, it was not only Taiwanese entrepreneurs who took the floor, but also Japanese startups. The summit featured a significant number of Japanese participants from financial institutions, venture capitalists, and trading companies. This increased Japanese involvement is expected to strengthen the JapanTaiwan network and contribute to the development of a thriving international ecosystem.

To start Day 1, Taiwan’s NDC Minister Liu Chin-Ching (Paul Liu), the Taiwanese delegation leader for this summit, took the stage. Minister Liu stated: “We are implementing the ‘Bridge Plan’ to expand innovation internationally. While we have been advancing innovation domestically in Taiwan, our future goal is to pursue international collaboration, with Japan being our first partner.” He emphasized the significance of Japan and Taiwan’s collaborative efforts. 

A video message from Tokyo Gov. Yuriko Koike was shown following Liu’s speech. She emphasized, “Taiwan and Japan have built a strong cooperative relationship. Let’s join forces between Tokyo and Taiwan to launch significant innovation.”

Among the speakers was Kei Furukawa, an Investment Partner at UTokyo IPC, who gave a lecture titled “Innovation and Startup Development Systems at the University of Tokyo VC,” discussing the advancement of innovation and entrepreneurship through collaboration between government and universities in Japan.

Additionally, there were presentations from Japanese and Taiwanese startups and innovation companies, speeches by notable guests, and more. The summit concluded with an invitation-only opening ceremony for the Taiwan Startup Tokyo office and a gala dinner with investors.

Visit J-Stories’ special page here:
https://jstories.media/jp/specials/jtis

Event Overview:

Name: 2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation SummitDate: September 17 (Tuesday) – 18 (Wednesday), 2024, 10:00 AM – 5:00 PMVenue: Tokyo Innovation Base (TiB) 2nd Floor (3-8-3 Marunouchi, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, in front of Yurakucho Station)Format: On-site participationLanguages: Chinese, Japanese, and English (with simultaneous interpretation)Organizer: Startup Island TAIWAN

For more information on the Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit 2024, please click here:

https://togethergobig.jp/en-summit

About J-Stories:

J-Stories is an online news platform that communicates innovative ideas, products, and technologies from Japan that address global issues to audiences and investors worldwide in Japanese, English, and Chinese. As the media partner for the “2024 Japan-Taiwan Innovation Summit,” J-Stories will be publishing articles about the summit before and after the event. J-Stories is run by Tokyo-based multilingual media agency Pacific Bridge Media & Consulting.

To receive the latest articles from J-Stories, please subscribe to our newsletter by emailing: jstories@pacificbridge.jp

View original content to download multimedia:https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/j-stories-launches-special-page-to-report-on-largest-japan-taiwan-summit-bringing-together-startups-and-investors-in-the-region-302256454.html

SOURCE PACIFIC BRIDGE MEDIA AND CONSULTING

Continue Reading

Trending