Canadian Welding Bureau is Encouraged by Today's Federal Budget Announcement

MILTON, ON, Mar 21, 2013, 2013 (Canada NewsWire via COMTEX) -- The Canadian Welding Bureau welcomes today's federal budget news of the introduction of the Canada Jobs Grants program, and funding for equipment upgrades and continued infrastructure investment. The news further affirms that welding, and skilled trades, are critical to Canada's ongoing growth.

"The new Canada Job Grant announced in today's budget demonstrates that skilled trades is a priority for the federal government," said Dan Tadic, executive director of the Canadian Welding Association (CWA).

"We look forward to similar support from the provinces and territories moving forward." The welding industry contributes over $5 billion to the Canadian economy and employs over 300,000 individuals. The industry remains robust because welding is everywhere; from pacemakers that keep people, to the cars that they drive, to the airplanes they fly in, to the bridges they go over, welding is a critical part of Canadians lives.

"It is no secret that there is and will continue to be shortage of qualified welders in Canada," continues Tadic. "The move to create new opportunities for apprenticeships will help industry meet the needs of the new Building Canada Fund. This infusion of more infrastructure projects will demand a highly trained and skilled workforce to be successful. We are pleased to see that the Harper government is taking action to support skilled trades in Canada." The current skills shortage not only creates difficulties in finding skilled tradespersons but introduces a risk that those doing the work now may not have the level of skill that industry has relied on in the past. Government, industry and training organizations must work together to meet the needs of the future and ensure Canadians' safety.

Since the early 1920s, the Canadian Welding Association (CWA) has been supporting the Canadian welding and joining industry. As a non-for-profit division of the Canadian Welding Bureau Group (CWB Group), the CWA is a national membership driven organization that provides a forum for industry professionals to share information and resources to further advance the trade.

As Canada's only national welding body and membership association, both the CWB and CWA have a vested interest in the success of today's announcement. Growth in the ranks of properly qualified welders, as handled through CWB, helps protect the safety of Canadians by providing a uniform level of welding knowledge and qualification across the country.

About CWB Group The CWB Group is a not-for-profit organization that is nationally responsible for the certification of welding companies and qualification of welders, ensuring Canadian code and standard compliance, and best practices are met by all welding establishments and educational institutions across Canada. For over 65 years, the CWB has been at the forefront of maintaining public safety while administering various CSA standards, certified welding companies, consumables and qualified welders. To learn more please visit www.cwbgroup.org SOURCE: The Canadian Welding Bureau To view this news release in HTML formatting, please use the following URL: http://www.newswire.ca/en/releases/archive/March2013/21/c7338.html SOURCE: The Canadian Welding Bureau Media contact information: Melody Gaukel Environics Communications on behalf of CWB Group 416-969-2704 mgaukel@environicspr.com

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