June 10, 2011
Manitoba Approves New Apprenticeship Trade Regulation that will Help Water, Waste-water Technicians Receive Certification
Manitoba has moved forward on approving a new regulation that will provide the education and training requirements leading to the certification of water and waste-water technicians, Entrepreneurship, Training and Trade Minister Peter Bjornson announced today.
“The Apprenticeship and Certification Board consulted extensively with stakeholders on the makeup of this important, new regulation,” said Bjornson. “We now have the framework in place so that new and existing water and waste-water operators have a formal training and education pathway to obtain certification in this important field of work.”
The new apprenticeship program is another option to provide operators with the necessary training to meet the requirements for certification as set out in regulation by Manitoba Conservation, the Provincial and Territorial Water and Wastewater Certifying Authority and the Association of Boards of Certification.
“This new trade certification provides a way for water and waste-water operators to gain the skills and knowledge necessary to reliably provide Manitobans with the highest quality of safe drinking water,” said Water Stewardship Minister Christine Melnick.
In 2009, a feasibility study found that stakeholders were very much in favour of setting up a water and waste-water technician training program in the province. A majority of respondents advised that an apprenticeship program would help attract and retain such technicians in the province and would be the best way to offer such technical training. In support of an apprenticeship program, the Manitoba Water and Wastewater Association formally requested that water and waste-water technician become a designated trade under Apprenticeship Manitoba.
“With achieving apprenticeship designation, we are better equipped to promote the water and waste-water technician trade as a career. The formalized training and education pathway ensures that supports exist for the employer and the apprentice throughout the program,” said Dale Scott, chair, Manitoba Water and Wastewater Association.
The Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Regulation under the Environment Act calls for staff to be adequately trained and eventually certified, to ensure protection of public health.
“Manitoba has a robust operator certification program and this new trade certification will allow for additional training and experience opportunities for existing and new operators,” said Conservation Minister Bill Blaikie.
The new Water and Wastewater Technician program is a two-year apprenticeship and the technical training portion will be scheduled for both online and classroom delivery through Red River College beginning in 2011-12. Designating water and waste-water technician as an apprenticeable trade, will create up to 42 training spaces, pending demand, available for municipalities and employers, Bjornson said.
For more information about Apprenticeship Manitoba and the new trade regulation, visit www.manitoba.ca/tradecareers. For more information regarding the Water and Wastewater Facility Operators Certification Program, visit www.gov.mb.ca/conservation/eal/index.html.
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