Political Opinions

Update from Doug Shipley

March Break/Springtime

Mar. 9, 2023 – March seemed to come in like a lion delivering heavy snowfall to many of us during the first weekend of March, but we know spring is just around the corner. It is hard to believe the kids are already enjoying March break. If you are looking for some fun family activities to enjoy in these final days of March break or on these final winter weekends there are many options right here in Springwater.

The Elmvale Community Arena will be hosting themed skates during the break where you can skate around in some of your favorite Disney and superhero gear. If the weather permits, outdoor skating may be an option and you can visit the Midhurst Pavilion outdoor rink or skate the trail at the County of Simcoe Museum.

The recent switch to daylight saving time may have left you feeling out of sorts this week.  Though the change does allow us to enjoy the sunshine later in the afternoon and evening it can certainly take some time for your internal clock to adjust.  I hope you are enjoying the lighter and brighter evenings and letting the natural sunlight in as much as possible.  I am looking forward to more evening walks in the sunshine.

This is also a great reminder to check on your smoke alarms and carbon monoxide detectors. Be sure the batteries are working properly and check any expiry dates in case the devices need to be replaced.

As you find ways to enjoy these last days of winter and look forward to the warmer days ahead, please remember that my staff and I are available to assist you with any matters related to the federal government. Please contact my office at Doug.Shipley@parl.gc.ca or 705-728-2596 for assistance.

Sincerely, Doug Shipley, Member of Parliament

Barrie – Springwater – Oro-Medonte

Update From Doug Downey

Preparing Students for a Future in Skilled Trades

Mar, 13, 2023 – The Government of Ontario is implementing a new high school graduation requirement to help better prepare students for the jobs of tomorrow. Starting with students entering Grade 9 in September 2024, all students will now be required to earn a Grade 9 or 10 Technological Education credit as part of their Ontario Secondary School Diploma.

This new learning graduation requirement will expose Ontario students to at least one Technological Education course that could guide them to a future in he highly skilled workforce, including in skilled trades. With more than 100,000 unfilled skilled trades jobs right now, it’s critical that Ontario attract more young people to pursue a career in the trades.

The Technological Education curriculum covers a broad range of sectors, including construction, transportation, manufacturing, computer technology, hospitality and communication. In Ontario, men make up more than 70 per cent of workers in trades-related occupations. The exposure to these career pathways as a mandatory graduation requirement ensures more young women have the opportunity to pursue a career in the trades.

While almost 39 per cent of Ontario secondary school students were enrolled in a Technological Education course in 2020-21, nearly 63 per cent were male students. With this graduation requirement, more young women will have an opportunity to explore the trades. This new requirement means a student may be introduced to programming learning in Grade 9, explore the apprenticeship pathway further and may ultimately decide to become an Aerospace Manufacturing Technician.

This new graduation requirement builds upon other actions taken by the government to bolster its Skilled Trades Strategy, including developing an accelerated Grade 11 to apprenticeship pathway for students to get into the skilled trades faster.

This action supports the next steps in Ontario’s Plan to Catch Up and ensures students have exposure and access to learning opportunities to consider STEM fields, including in the skilled trades, as a future career.

To ensure the curriculum for Technological Education courses meets the needs of the growing workforce, the government has begun consultations with employers, unions, education stakeholders, trainers, parents students and other to explore academic entry requirements for the skilled trades. It is currently projected that by 2026, approximately one in five job openings in Ontario will be in skilled trades-related fields.