If ever there was a field that needed an image boost it is the hazardous materials abatement trade. Its labour force is largely made up of transient workers, many of whom see it merely as a stepping stone to work in a “real” trade, such as plumbing, electrical, or even drywall.

But the field could get a big boost in Ontario as organizers there strive to create a government-licensed hazardous materials apprenticeship program, making it the first jurisdiction in Canada and probably the U.S. to do so.

Observers suggest that the timing of the program, initiated by the Interior Systems Contractors Association (ISCA) of Ontario, couldn’t be better. Over the past few years, the provincial government has implemented tough regulations regarding the handling and abatement procedures of hazardous materials and it has been vigilant about enforcing them.

Industry leaders are supportive of the apprenticeship program because it will give the field credibility it so sadly lacks. “We have a heck of a time retaining our labour force,” explains one of the program’s organizers, Ted Barron, president of I&I Construction Services Inc., a Torontobased environmental and hazardous materials abatement contractor. Barron sits on ISCA’s technical committee and the board of directors of the Environmental Abatement Council of Ontario (EACO), one of the three associations behind the apprenticeship drive.

The program will cover asbestos, mould, lead, chemicals, and other hazardous materials. Training will be at ISCA’s newly opened 30,000 square foot training facility in suburban Toronto. The facility was built to train hazmat workers and EIFS mechanics. Along with EACO, the Ontario Association of Demolition Contractors (OADC), and the Master Insulators Association (MIA) of Ontario are key stakeholders in the apprenticeship program. Craig Moore, executive director of the OADC, says eight out of every 10 workers in asbestos abatement see it as temporary work. The apprenticeship program would lead to a stable workforce.

Organizers would like to see the program commence this fall, but a more realistic date is spring 2010, a perfect time because it coincides with the expiration of the collective agreements. While the three big associations have always used the same labour pool, they have been tied to three different unions, making it difficult for workers to cross union boundaries. The three unions, however, are working on a reciprocal agreement so workers won’t lose their benefits. “It would help ensure a good supply of labour,” says Barron.

So far, the Laborer’s International Union Local 506 and the International Union of Painters & Allied Trades Local 1891 have negotiated a standard set of terms. The International Association of Heat & Frost Insulators and Allied Workers Local 95 is expected to come on board soon. “I don’t think you’ll find another jurisdiction in North America where three unions are cooperating to potentially share a skilled labour pool,” says Barron. “It’s a huge step forward for us.”

Meanwhile, the Ministry of Training, Colleges, and Universities (MTCU) has set up a steering committee made up of the stakeholders to develop a foundation for the program. A subcommittee will be formed to finalize the curriculum. To meet provincial apprenticeship standards the program will run 3,600 hours—a mix of in-class and on-the-job training.

Qualifications for the program still haven’t been worked out yet, but Moore thinks that a Grade 10 minimum should be the standard, rather than Grade 12 because many of the workers in demolition don’t have high school diplomas. If education standards are set too high, many workers will choose other employment. “If you had Grade 12 education wouldn’t you rather go become an electrician, plumber, steamfitter, or a millwright or would you rather work in asbestos?” 