Larry Rosia
President & CEO, Saskatchewan Polytechnic
Polytechnics are uniquely equipped to deliver the apprenticeship training Canada needs to address its skilled labour shortage.
Canada helps feed the world, powers global industries, and anchors the energy and mining future. But even the strongest engine sputters if it runs out of fuel — and right now, our skilled labour force is running dangerously low.
With hundreds of thousands of tradespeople retiring by 2028 and growing demand, Canada needs more workers — from mining and construction to energy and manufacturing — and we need them now.
Work-integrated learning connects classroom learning, lab practice, and real-world application.
Robust apprenticeships are the immediate answer, and polytechnics are the model best suited for apprenticeship training.
Polytechnics support both learners and employers with training, mentorship, supervision, and assessment. They’re equipped to deliver consistent, accredited technical training tied to national and provincial standards. Saskatchewan Polytechnic, for example, delivers training for over 20 trades across multiple communities in partnership with the provincial apprenticeship authority. Polytechnics provide broad-based learning beyond what a single employer could provide while staying closely aligned with industry to ensure training is current and tied to real-world needs. Work-integrated learning connects classroom learning, lab practice, and real-world application.
If Canada wants to build homes, expand energy production, modernize infrastructure, and fuel economic growth, we don’t need to reinvent apprenticeship training; we simply need to invest in the institutions that already deliver it best.
Read the full story at saskpolytech.ca
