The private and public sector are joining forces to promote careers in the marine sector and help alleviate labour shortages.
The marine shipping industry in Canada has joined forces with the federal government to launch the Canadian Marine Industry Foundation (CMIF), to promote careers in the marine sector and help alleviate labour shortages. The initiative was formally announced in January of this year.
The CMIF was conceived and developed by Canada’s private and public sector marine stakeholders, including the Ottawa-based association Chamber of Marine Commerce, and the federal government under the direction of Transport Canada, the Canadian Coast Guard and the Transportation Safety Board of Canada.
The foundation aims to expand its membership to include private and public entities from all coasts in Canada. It will present opportunities for engagement, resource sharing and also direct financial contribution.
One of the CMIF’s first initiatives in 2020 will be to launch a digital campaign to raise awareness of the industry so it can continue to attract the skilled labour, trades and accredited professionals needed to steer the industry forward. The campaign will ask Canadians to Imagine Marine and start a conversation to spark the imagination of youth to consider careers in an industry with a tradition and future like no other. A new web-based career resource will be designed to inform, direct and support workforce candidates with academic and career information.
The CMIF will not replace or duplicate individual company or departmental recruitment efforts but rather act as a clearing house or one-stop resource that provides the broader picture of everything the marine sector has to offer.
“The Canadian Coast Guard is honoured to be a founding member of the Canadian Marine Industry Foundation. It’s integral that the marine sector has a thriving workforce – from entry level straight through to experienced professionals. This initiative will help showcase the exciting and varied positions that exist ashore and afloat that satisfy a wide range of interests and goals,” says Bernadette Jordan, Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard.
https://cmif-fimc.ca
