Canada is facing a huge amount of work when it comes to electrification, infrastructure renewal and the future of the electricity grid. But do we have enough people to do it?

In this episode of the CUSW Spotlight Podcast, host Dan Plexman is having a discussion with Mark Chapeskie, Vice President, Programs at Electricity Human Resources Canada (EHRC), to talk about the workforce challenges facing Canada’s electricity sector.

Mark explains what EHRC does and why bringing employers, unions, post-secondary institutions and policymakers to the same table is so important. He also shares what the labour market data is telling us about the number of workers we have, the number we will need, and where those workers can come from.

Dan and Mark talk about attracting young people to the skilled trades, the importance of exposing students to career options earlier, the role of immigrants and workers transitioning from other industries, and the need to make the industry more accessible to people who have traditionally been underrepresented.

The conversation also takes a closer look at some very practical issues affecting women in the trades, from appropriate PPE to basic facilities on job sites, and why attracting workers is only part of the challenge. Retaining them matters just as much.

There is a lot of work ahead for Canada, but Mark is optimistic about what the electricity sector can offer and the opportunities that are coming with it.

This is a conversation about workers, skills, inclusion and whether Canada is ready for what’s next.

Want to connect with Mark or learn more?  Feel free to reach out to him directly at chapeskie@ehrc.ca

Don’t forget to visit www.cusw.ca to explore more opportunities and resources. If you have a story to share, a guest to suggest, or a topic you’d like to hear on the podcast, email us at podcast@cusw.ca. And if you enjoyed this episode, share it with your friends and colleagues to help shine the spotlight on the incredible work happening at CUSW! 

 🔗 Mentioned in This Episode 
Want to explore more about what we talked about today? Below you'll find links and resources referenced in the episode. 

• The Canadian Charter of Rights and Freedom
• The Ontario Human Rights Code and system
• The Counselling Foundation of Canada
• Abacus Data

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