Feds award CTHRC close to $2 million

OTTAWA — Canadian Trucking Human Resources Council is getting an influx of cash from the federal government.

Joe Fontana, minister of Labour and Housing, announced that the government would provide over $1.8 million through the Sector Council Program to the CTHRC in order to “promote a skilled workforce in the trucking sector.”

“One of the sectors where the demand for skilled workers is particularly acute is trucking,” said Fontana.

The CTHRC — a non-profit organization that provides human resources services for the trucking industry, including the Earning Your Wheels driver-training program — will use the funding for two projects.

About $1.2 million will be used by the CTHRC on the second phase of Trucking Outreach — a corporate marketing and communications program to increase awareness within the trucking industry of the Council and its human resources products and services.

The remaining $650,000 will go towards expanding the Driver Recognition Program from a stand-alone provincial professional program into “a Canada-wide program that reflects national standards.”

“Raising the level of professionalism in our industry and promoting a positive image are crucial to sustaining and growing our workforce,” said Linda Gauthier, executive director of the CTHRC.