Prime Minister Stephen Harper pays tribute to those building Canada’s future

January 29, 2010

ST. JOHN’S, NEWFOUNDLAND AND LABRADOR – Prime Minister Stephen Harper today underlined the importance of Newfoundland and Labrador’s construction industry in building Canada’s future prosperity as Canada prepares to implement the second phase of its Economic Action Plan.
 
“In executing the first phase of Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the importance of the men and women of the construction industry in Newfoundland and Labrador, and throughout the country, cannot be overstated.  As we prepare to launch the second phase, that role will become no less essential,” said Prime Minister Harper in a speech to the Newfoundland and Labrador Construction Association.
 
The Prime Minister noted the Government’s efforts to create tomorrow’s jobs by investing heavily in Newfoundland and Labrador employment and training programs.  “If construction professionals adopt new technologies and stay current with their expertise, they should have long, busy and successful careers,” the Prime Minister said.
 
The Government is supporting practical incentives to encourage talented, ambitious young people into the trades.  Initiatives include an apprenticeship grant to reduce the costs of schooling, a job creation tax credit to reward employers who hire apprentices, a tax credit to make the cost of tools easier to manage, and a bonus for those who complete The Red Seal Program, an interprovincial standard of excellence for skilled trades.