Fabricator needs more NSCC grads

Cherubini metal works can't find Nova Scotian workers

The vice-president of a major Nova Scotia contractor for the Deep Panuke oil and gas project says he can’t find local workers.  

Dartmouth-based Cherubini Metal Works was so concerned with the labour shortage it hired 20 foreign workers from India, Bangladesh and the Philippines 18 months ago to complete its projects. 

“There was nobody available here,” said Steve England.  “Legally we’re obliged to complete the contracts. We had to find a way to get workers.”

England is lobbying the Nova Scotia Community College to at least double the number of students it graduates in metal fabrication. He told allnovascotia.com earlier this week that NSCC hadn't responded to his concerns. 

“There’s only one course being offered in Nova Scotia, that’s at the Marconi Campus in Cape Breton,” said England. The course is 10 months long and trains 18 students each year. 

England wants a second program to help alleviate the shortage. The community college appears to be sympathetic. 

“I respect the fact that there’s an issue Mr. England has. We want to work with him to see if there’s a solution,” said Jamie Hilts, Vice-President Academic of the Nova Scotia Community College.  

The program simply delivered too few students for Cherubibi to hire for work on the Deep Panuke wellhead structure.

“With myself, our competitors and western Canada all fighting over 18 students there’s not a whole lot left over,” said England. 

England’s optimism comes from a meeting he had with college officials Wednesday afternoon. 

“The meeting went very well actually,” said England. “We put forward what our requirements were and what we’re looking for.” 

“It was a very productive meeting and we feel we’re going to make some headway,” said England. 

England explained to NSCC officials that it’s not just his company, but the entire fabrication industry in Nova Scotia that needs fitter-fabricators. 

England said he felt NSCC listened to his concerns. England has another meeting with NSCC scheduled for Nov. 18 to discuss the issue further. 

There appears to be plans for a more organized lobbying effort.  

“My understanding is that my competitors were talking to the college and that in the last few days a focus group may be developed to put forward industry concerns,” said England.  

Hilts confirmed the focus group is coming about. 

“We’re just putting together some of the names right now,” said Hilts. “People like RKO steel, Cape Scott Steel, Marid Steel.”

 Cherubini hired the 20 foreign workers about a year and half ago. “There was no body available here,” said England. “Legally we’re obliged to complete the contracts. We had to find a way to get workers.”

England declined to comment on wages for these trades. However, according to the federal government’s labour market information, the average wage in Halifax was $21 an hour in 2008. The same workers made an average of $29 an hour in Ft McMurray in 2007. 

The new program won’t come about overnight though. Hilts said NSCC has to be sure of many things before they add programs.

“We need to ensure there’s enough of a student demand to make sure the program is viable,” said Hilts. “We also need to ensure that there’s a demand from a labour and workforce perspective.”

Hilts also said staff, space and money are key concerns when setting up programs. The process of gathering data and figuring out if a program is viable generally takes three months to a year. 

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