New Brunswick Initiative Tackles Skilled Trades Gap and Affordable Housing

Image Credit, Ryno Marais

FREDERICTON (GNB) – In a strategic move to address both the housing crisis and the shortage of skilled tradespeople, the New Brunswick government has announced a significant investment of $276,000. This initiative is set to launch a one-year carpentry training program, in partnership with Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick and the Carpenter Millwright College of NB, aimed at producing new carpenters and constructing new homes on Fredericton’s north side.

Minister of Post-Secondary Education, Training, and Labour, Greg Turner, emphasized the dual benefits of this program. “As our province continues to experience unprecedented growth, we are taking steps to ensure New Brunswickers have access to safe, affordable housing,” said Turner. “Along with building new homes for Fredericton families, this program will also help us meet the growing demand for skilled tradespeople, particularly in residential construction.”

The program will accommodate 15 participants, offering a comprehensive blend of 20 weeks of classroom instruction followed by 32 weeks of hands-on training. This practical experience will be facilitated by Red Seal carpenters from the college and Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick, culminating in the construction of five homes for families with lower incomes.

Perry Kendall, CEO of Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick, expressed enthusiasm for the collaboration. “We are pleased to partner with the provincial government and the Carpenter Millwright College on this exciting new initiative,” said Kendall. “This project, combined with Habitat for Humanity’s affordable mortgage model, will make an incredible difference in the lives of families in need of affordable housing in the Fredericton area, as well as helping to solve the skilled trades shortage.”

T.C. Eggleton, training director at the Carpenter Millwright College, highlighted the program’s potential to jumpstart careers in carpentry. “Carpenters Local 1386 and the Carpenter Millwright College of NB would like to thank the provincial government and Habitat for Humanity for entrusting us with the training portion of this project,” said Eggleton. “We are excited to provide a great kick-start to carpentry careers through real-life work experiences that show how impactful this type of work can be.”

The urgency of this initiative is underscored by labor force projections indicating a need for about 10,000 workers in the construction sector over the next decade, representing roughly 30 percent of current employment in the sector. This aligns with the government’s three-year Residential Construction and Manufacturing Action Plan, which aims to boost participation in skilled trades and support apprenticeship programs.

The City of Fredericton will contribute to this effort by transferring property for the homes to Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick. Mayor Kate Rogers stressed the importance of this collaboration. “Access to housing is an issue that is top of mind for Frederictonians, and the city is always working to contribute meaningfully to housing solutions,” said Rogers. “The City of Fredericton is proud to be donating 10 plots of land on the north side of our city for the construction of affordable homes. This is done alongside contributions from the Province of New Brunswick and work done by Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick. Collaboration between orders of government and the not-for-profit sector is critical to address the diverse housing needs across the community.”

Habitat for Humanity New Brunswick has a longstanding commitment to housing families in need, having assisted nearly 90 families throughout the province. For those interested in applying for a home, information is available on their website. This initiative marks a significant step forward in addressing both the skilled trades gap and the urgent need for affordable housing in New Brunswick.