One area politician has a clear vision for the year ahead.
Lambton-Kent-Middlesex MPP Monte McNaughton says his goals are simple – get more young people interested in a career in the skilled trades.
“We all have to work together, whether it’s the education system and guidance councillors to parents out there and to kids, we need to encourage people to get into the trades and end that stigma,” McNaughton says.
The Minister of Labour, Training, and Skills Development says there are 200,000 unfilled jobs in Ontario, many of which are in the trades.
“I think in terms of the infrastructure that we’re building, whether it’s running and expanding natural gas lines through Chatham-Kent or bringing broadband internet to rural Ontario to transportation systems that are being built across southwestern Ontario,” McNaughton says. “All these things are because of trades people. This will be an opportunity for generations to come.
Meantime, McNaughton is preparing for a series of New Year’s Levees across the riding this weekend.
The first will take place at the Forest Legion starting at 9am on Saturday, the second at the Wallaceburg Legion at noon, and the third will be held at the Strathroy Seniors Centre at 3:30pm.
