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:: Thursday, August 21, 2008 ::

Carpenters’ union Local 2486 builds new Sudbury training centre – By DAN O’REILLY, Daily Commercial News Canada
A strong economy bolstered by high nickel prices, expanding medical and educational facilities and a more diversified manufacturing sector are contributing to strong economic growth in Sudbury. As a result, construction trades in that city and other areas of Northern Ontario are in short supply.

“We expect will need another 200 to 300 carpenters in the next two years,” says Tom Cardinal, senior representative of Local 2486 of the United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners of America. The local covers an area stretching from North Bay to Timmins and over to Parry Sound.

While better organizing drives have been a factor, an improved economy driven by high nickel and other mineral prices has contributed to a near doubling of the local’s membership to approximately 800 in the past four-and-half to five years, he says.

But the local’s ability to meet the construction industry’s needs, both on the residential and non-residential sides, has long been hampered by a lack of adequate training facilities. While some courses were offered in rented premises, other courses were only available in southern Ontario and that meant expensive travel.

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