MBiz | Summer 2022

CANADIAN MANUFACTURERS AND EXPORTERS

to provide them with a better understanding of the career opportunities they have to offer. The CME also launched a pilot project last fall in conjunction with the provincial govern- ment and the Manitoba Institute of Trades & Technology that allows individuals on Em- ployment and Income Assistance to take part in an eight-week training program focused on basic skills needed to work in manufacturing. Knaggs says boosting the labour pool for Manitoba’s manufacturing sector is critical to the province’s economic success, especially with some of the challenges posed by the CO- VID-19 pandemic. It’s estimated that manu- facturing sales in the province are worth $20.8 billion annually and represent 9.4 per cent of its gross domestic product. “Manufacturing has been the backbone and fabric of our lives and livelihoods as Canadians,” she says. “I think the pandemic has really opened people’s eyes to how important the sector is as we started realizing how many shortages we might have in producing essential goods here in Canada.” ■

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