The province is spending about $1 million to help get trades people into the workforce, faster, and work in Nova Scotia.

“We’ve taken bold action and made significant investments to help increase and preserve affordable housing in Nova Scotia,” said John Lohr, Minister of Municipal Affairs and Housing. “We also need to have enough skilled trades professionals and building officials to keep pace with development needs and ensure buildings are safe. These investments are helping to expand access to this important programming so we can build more homes, faster.”

The province says about 175 people, new to the province, with experience in construction trades will receive support to complete their apprenticeship.

The Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency will receive $650,000 for the Work-based Trades Practical Assessment program.

The Nova Scotia Building Officials Association will run a training program and will receive $400,000.

The province is helping the Nova Scotia Building Officials Association expand its training program and create more opportunities for municipal staff to access specialized training needed to become a qualified building official in Nova Scotia.

The government is also working to remove barriers for building officials from outside the province, including the six-month, on-the-job, training requirement, under the association’s professional studies program.

There are about 113 qualified building officials across the province, less than the national per capita average of 15 for every 100,000 in population.  They are responsible for inspections to support the administration and enforcement of the Nova Scotia Building Code.

Prism Economics estimates roughly 11.000 new skilled trades professionals will be needed in Nova Scotia, by 2030.