Heavy-duty equipment technician apprentices in the Border City will have an easier time getting their credentials thanks to a new cross-border agreement between Saskatchewan and Alberta.
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The two provincial governments have signed a memorandum of understanding (MOU) allowing Saskatchewan-based apprentices employed in Lloydminster to register in Alberta. The agreement, which retroactively took effect April 1, means local students can attend technical training closer to home rather than travelling deeper into Saskatchewan.
Eric Schmalz, Saskatchewan’s minister of immigration and career training, said the partnership addresses a critical regional labor pinch.
“This agreement ensures Saskatchewan employers are not at a disadvantage when hiring in the region, helping to secure a more stable labour force within the heavy-duty equipment technician trade,” Schmalz said in a news release.
Under the new rules, employers and apprentices on either side of the border can register apprenticeship contracts in either province, regardless of where the worker lives or where the business is physically located. To keep the training balanced, Saskatchewan will financially compensate Alberta when Saskatchewan-based apprentices choose to register next door.
Alberta advanced education minister Myles McDougall welcomed the streamlined approach, noting that cutting red tape strengthens the skilled trades workforce on both sides of the provincial boundary.
Lloydminster MLA Colleen Young noted the demand for heavy equipment technicians remains incredibly strong.
“Enabling our residents the chance to attend training closer to home is positive and may provide the incentive for more people to consider this career path,” Young said.
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