Government of Canada creates 750 paid work placements for students with electricity industry partners like Ontario Power Generation

Press Release

April 10, 2018 Clarington, Ontario Employment and Social Development Canada

When post-secondary students get the chance to learn in a hands-on work environment, they build the real-world skills and connections that help them get great jobs when they graduate. That’s why the Student Work Placements Program is such a critical part of the Government’s plan to put Canada’s greatest strength—its skilled, hard-working people—at the heart of a more innovative future economy.

The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour, announced today that the Government of Canada will provide over $6.6 million to the Electricity Human Resources Council (EHRC) for the project Building Partnerships and Opportunities for Integrated Learning in Electricity, which will help 750 students in the electricity industry and business fields develop important skills and gain valuable workplace experience.

The Government of Canada is rolling out a $73 million Student Work Placements Program to create over 10,000 paid student work placements in the fields of science, technology, engineering, mathematics and business over the next four years, and to facilitate stronger partnerships between employers and partnering polytechnics, universities and colleges. This is in addition to funding provided to Mitacs, a not-for-profit organization that provides research internships, with a goal of creating 10,000 work placements per year. With these combined investments, over 60,000 post-secondary students will have paid work placements over the next five years.

Minister Hajdu made the announcement at the Darlington Nuclear Information Centre, together with the Ontario Power Generation and the EHRC, one of several industry partners working with the Government of Canada. The EHRC works to help the electricity industry ensure it has a highly skilled, diverse and productive workforce that meets current and future needs of the Canadian job market.

Quotes

“When Canadian students get on-the-job education, they’re getting the experience they need to succeed. Our Innovation and Skills Plan is putting Canada’s skilled, talented and creative people at the heart of a more innovative future economy.”
– The Honourable Patty Hajdu, Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Labour

“The Student Work Integrated Learning program was developed to bridge the gap between formal post-secondary learning and skills requirements of Canadian employers. The difficulties faced by young Canadians in the transition from school to work— obtaining entry into the world of work and gaining relevant job experience—are well known. This program will provide students with the opportunity to align their technical skills with the entrepreneurial and “work-ready” skills required by today’s employers.”
– Michelle Branigan, Chief Executive Officer, Electricity Human Resources Council

“The Ontario Power Generation is proud to partner with the Government of Canada and Electricity Human Resources Canada to help the next generation of our industry’s workforce have the skills and education they need to succeed. We hire close to 250 students every year and each one brings new ideas and innovation to our company. By bridging the gap between formal study and hands-on experience, we are investing in our industry’s future leaders and positioning Ontario as a world leader in the electricity sector.”
– Barb Keenan, Senior Vice President, People and Culture, and Chief Ethics Officer, Ontario Power Generation

Quick facts

According to the EHRC, Canada will install and deploy renewable electrical capabilities over the next 10 years with growth of anywhere from 20,000 to 52,000 megawatts of new power. This will increase the skilled workforce needed in this areas by two to three times.
Budget 2018 announced $8 million to support the creation of up to 1,000 student work placements in the field of cyber security, as part of the National Cyber Security Strategy.
Under the Student Work Placements Program, the Government also announced $1 million per year to create up to 500 new placements over three years in the field of artificial intelligence for students in science, technology, engineering and mathematics.
Work placements are a continuum of opportunities offered within the workplace, including internships, practicums and cooperative placements (co-ops).
Students who participate in these opportunities are more likely to benefit from higher earnings and more employment opportunities, be employed in fields more closely related to their studies and develop technical and work-ready skills sought after by employers.