News Release

From the Prime Minister's Web Site (http://www.pm.gc.ca/)

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PRIME MINISTER HARPER CONGRATULATES APPRENTICESHIP GRADUATES

May 22, 2008
SARNIA, ON

Prime Minister Stephen Harper and Pat Davidson, Member of Parliament for Sarnia-Lambton, today participated in the Sarnia Construction Association's 41st Annual Construction Apprentice Graduation.

The Prime Minister spoke to over 100 new graduates and congratulated them on earning their trades certifications. "You've made a great career choice" Prime Minister Harper said. "In the coming years Canada is going to need hundreds of thousands of skilled tradesmen and women. Without skilled trades people, you can't build the factories, plants, schools, housing and other infrastructure we need to keep our economy growing and our country strong."

Since taking office the Government has undertaken several initiatives to support trades apprenticeship programs. They include:

The Apprenticeship Incentive Grant, which provides $1,000 per year to help apprentices pay for education and training during the first two years of an apprenticeship program,

The Apprenticeship Job Creation Tax Credit, which provides employers with a tax credit worth up to $2,000 per apprentice, for each of the first two years of their contract,

And the Tools Deduction which allows trades people to claim a tax deduction worth up to $500 of the cost of their tools.

"Skilled trades are the backbone of our economy", said the Prime Minister. "That's why we have to make sure the next generation of carpenters, welders, pipefitters and others will be there when we need them."

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The Prime Minister's Office - Communications
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