For years — or for too long, some might say — apprentices in Kenora and Northwestern Ontario have had to travel to Thunder Bay to write their Certificate of Qualification exams, adding travel costs, time away from work and delays to the certification process.
The new testing centre in Kenora is intended to change that.
Ontario’s Minister of Labour, Immigration, Training and Skills Development, David Piccini, said the province established the centre to remove barriers local apprentices faced when trying to become certified in their trade.
“For apprentices in Northern Ontario, Northwestern Ontario, specifically Kenora, the current reality and status quo just was not acceptable, travelling to Thunder Bay,” Piccini said. “It wasn’t just an inconvenience. What we heard from people and what Greg Rickford so championed is that it was a real barrier.”
Piccini joined Kenora-Rainy River MPP Greg Rickford and representatives from Skilled Trades Ontario in Kenora late last month to officially open the new Certificate of Qualification exam testing centre.
Piccini said the requirement to travel long distances for certification exams carried real consequences for workers trying to complete their apprenticeship journey.
“It was hundreds of dollars in costs, hours away from work and family,” he said. “That really had practical ramifications — delayed certification, delayed careers, delayed contributions to communities that we know need building.”
The minister said the new centre is one part of a broader effort to increase participation in the skilled trades and address labour shortages across Northwestern Ontario.
“We know we’re going to need at least 21,000 workers in Northwestern Ontario in the skilled trades over the coming years,” Piccini said. “We know many are retiring.”
He said making certification more accessible helps workers achieve journeyperson status sooner, allowing them to enter the workforce more quickly.
“Barriers are cost, travel and delay,” Piccini said. “By putting exams in, we remove these barriers. Certification closer to home means that tradespeople enter the workforce faster and communities get the workers they deserve.”
Piccini said local employers had also raised concerns about the impact of travel requirements on their ability to train and hire apprentices.
He recalled hearing about employers who were waiting for workers to complete their certification before bringing on additional apprentices.
“They’ve got to drive 12 hours plus. That’s crazy. That’s a real barrier,” Piccini said. “That prevents us from getting the next generation of apprentices into companies.”
Looking ahead, Piccini said he expects the Kenora testing centre to see strong use from tradespeople across the region.
“I do. I think it’s going to make it far easier to access,” he said.
He added that the province hopes bringing testing closer to home will encourage more young people to consider careers in the skilled trades.
“Now’s never been a better time than today to get into the skilled trades,” Piccini said. “It’s certainly our hope that young people will look at that for meaningful, rewarding careers.”
