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| back to previous page |
April 9, 2003 |
RAC Press Release |
| Agree To Work Together On Rail Industry's Training Needs | |
| The Association of Canadian Community Colleges (ACCC) and the Railway Association of Canada (RAC) have signed a Statement of Intent to ensure there are enough skilled workers for the railway industrys future needs. Participating community colleges, institutes of technology and cégeps will provide pre-employment training for rail traffic controllers, signals and communications technicians, conductors and locomotive engineers. These institutions are railways partners of choice, producing highly qualified graduates for this essential industry, said Gerry Brown, President of the ACCC. The initiative will make use of and complement two existing courses designed and developed by the RAC through its Institute of Railway Technology (IRT) and offered at the Southern Alberta Institute of Technology (SAIT) in Calgary. Bill Rowat, President and CEO of the RAC, said that, similar to many other sectors, the railway industrys retirement rates will more than double over the next five years. By working together, the public and private sectors can address these challenges in a proactive manner with proper governance, accountability, and results, said Mr. Rowat. Our industry needs the best and the brightest to maintain its leadership role providing outstanding transportation services in Canada, and North America. This initiative is in both our best interests. Under the Statement of Intent, the RAC will provide hiring forecasts by region, by occupation and work with railway members to hire graduates. The RAC and ACCC will work together to complement college efforts to promote rail programs among Canadian youth, attract government funding, and to ensure easy mobility of graduates and recognition of learning across Canada. The associations will also establish a steering committee to provide governance for the delivery and promotion of college-based pre-employment rail programs. The RAC represents 57 freight and passenger railways operating in Canada today. They carry more than six million carloads of freight and intermodal traffic, and 60 million rail commuters, intercity travellers and tourists annually. The industry employs almost 40,000 directly and over 50,000 indirectly in Canada. ACCC is the national and international voice of 150 Canadian colleges, institutes of technology, university-colleges and cégeps. With over 900 campuses employing 60,000 professionals, teaching 850,000 full-time and more than 1.5 million part-time learners in state-of-the-art learning environments, colleges and institutes of technology offer a vast array of education and training services. The role of the Association is one of partner, forum and advocate. |
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Contact Information: Roger Cameron, RAC 613-564-8097 rogerc@railcan.ca Paul Brennan, ACCC 613-746-2222 x3132 pbrennan@accc.ca |
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Document(s): Click here to download the Statement of Intent Document in PDF ( 14 KB ) |
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| Railway
Association of Canada 99 Bank Street, Suite 901 Ottawa, ON K1P 6B9 Telephone: (613) 567-8591 Fax: (613) 567-6726 |
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Mr. Paul Goyette Director, Communications and Public Affairs Phone: (613) 564-8097 |
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