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11 · Monday, December 26, 2011 OAKVILLE BEAVER · www.insideHALTON.com ON A WIDE SELECTION OF SPECIALLY MARKED IN-STORE PRODUCTS (Selection, quantities and discounts may vary from store to store.) DAY60 BOXING UP TO OFF % Monday, December 26 Only! *check your local RONA for hours of operation SAVE BONUS! MORE OFF THE PRODUCT OF YOUR CHOICE! 50 CHANTAL AYOTTE / OAKVILLE BEAVER UP TO % SAVE OFF MORE selected RONA and RONA Collection vanities available in-store TRADING OPPORTUNITIES: Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak visits Sheridan College's Skills Training Centre in Oakville to discuss his party's plan to modernize Ontario's apprenticeship system and create 200,000 more skilled-trades jobs in the process. Hudak lays out plan for f more skilled-trades jobs in province By David Lea OAKVILLE BEAVER STAFF Ontario PC Leader Tim Hudak outlined a plan to create 200,000 skilled-trades jobs, during a recent tour of Sheridan College's Skills Training Centre, located at 407 Iroquois Shore Rd. During the tour, Hudak, accompanied by Burlington MPP Jane McKenna, spoke with students and instructors and even tried his hand at running a hydraulic surface grinder before speaking to the media about a huge challenge facing Ontario. "We've got a paradox in Ontario," said Hudak. "We've got high unemployment on one hand, but we've got a skilled-trades shortage on the other. In fact, we've estimated there will be one million jobs by 2021 in the skilled trades that will go unfilled unless we make changes today." To fix this, Hudak called for a four-year plan to create 200,000 skilled trades jobs, including plumbers, electricians, and tool and die makers, through the modernization of Ontario's apprenticeship system. Hudak said the current problem with Ontario's apprenticeship system is only 46 per cent of apprentices graduate, compared to the average from the other provinces. He also said because Ontario's system is complicated and hard to navigate, only 25 per cent of the people who begin an apprenticeship program actually receive their certificate of qualification. "What we propose to do is work more closely with colleges like Sheridan who have an excellent reputation for identifying potential apprentices and matching them up with full-time employers," Hudak said. "I want to give colleges more authority in running that program for apprentices." Hudak also said the Ontario PC apprenticeship reform plan would lower the ratio of apprentices to journeymen to one-to-one. "In other provinces, to hire an apprentice you have to have one journeymen who plays a mentor role to help that apprentice learn the ropes," he said. "But in Ontario, we have a system from the 1970s where you often need three, four or five journeymen to hire one apprentice. So we have apprentices looking for jobs, but they only get one third to one fifth the opportunity you'd find in other provinces and far too many of them have to head out to B.C., Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba to get a job." As the PC party did not form the government in the last election, Hudak said his current job is to put good ideas on the table, which he hopes the Liberal government will pick up and move forward. "I do worry they are a little bit caught up with the special interests and the union bosses that like the old system, but I think if we keep the pressure up like we are here in Oakville today, we can force the McGuinty government to take up this good idea," said Hudak. "If they don't, then perhaps we will have the opportunity as a future government to make this happen. I just don't want to waste time today when we are in a jobs crisis." 50 UP TO % SAVE OFF MORE selected interior light fixtures available in-store 25 selected toilets available in-store % OFF SAVE MORE 25 % OFF SAVE MORE interior door handles available in-store *Selection may vary by location and some products may only be available on special order at some stores. Lifestyle pictures are for display purposes only. * Bonus offer must be presented at time of purchase. Certain conditions apply. Details in store. ®/TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and RONA Inc. 4 X with a purchase of $40 or more Excluding taxes and the purchase of gift cards.* Offer valid on December 26, 2011 at participating RONA stores only. THE AIRMILES® REWARD MILES CODE 1194 OAKVILLE 399 Speers Road 905 844 8010 2311 Royal Windsor Dr. 905 337 1533 TO OUR CUSTOMERS. · The information in this ad reflects the information available during its conception. If, despite our vigilance, some errors occurred, a notice will be printed in store. If items differ from what is illustrated, the description prevails. · We strive to carry sufficient quantities of advertised products. We have the right to limit quantities to professionals and the general public. · Because of market variations, we have the right to change prices when necessary. Federal and provincial consumption taxes are not included in our prices. Prices published in this ad apply only to stores found in the Our Addresses section. The "Regular Price" mention refers to the lowest price noted on December 26, 2011 in this ad zone. Cash and carry prices until December 26, 2011. · Some conditions apply. See store for details. · The 15% off product of your choice discount voucher is handed out in store on Monday, y December 26th, 2011, at participating RONA locations only. Consumers will save 15% on one (1) product of their choice per transaction, per person, per day. Limit of 15 units of the same product (same product code). Discount applies Monday December 26th, 2011, on all in-stock merchandise available in-store only. Special orders, the purchase of RONA gift cards, layaways and services offered in store, such as installation, delivery, rentals, cut shop services, etc., are not eligible for this promotion. Discount applicable before taxes. Only "cash and carry" purchases paid by cash, debit or major credit cards are eligible. This offer is invalid on contractor or house accounts. Cannot be combined with any other offer, r but applies to products already on sale in this ad and in store. (except for "Steal of a deal" offers and category rebates). Certain conditions apply. Details in store. · 4X Air Mile reward miles based on minimum purchase of $40 before taxes. ®/TM Trademarks of AIR MILES International Trading B.V. V used under license by LoyaltyOne, Inc. and RONA Inc. Certain conditions apply. Details in store. 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