On Monday, Aug. 24 at Mount Royal University, Patty Hajdu, Minister of Jobs and Families and Minister responsible for the Federal Economic Development Agency for Northern Ontario announced the launch of the Transportation and Supply Chain Workforce Alliance.
This is the third such alliance announced by the Canadian government, aimed at bringing together industry partners to address challenges and keep Canada's supply chains running.
The Transportation and Supply Chain Workforce Alliance will be led by Trucking HR Canada in partnership with Canada's Association of Logistics Provider (CIFFA). It will bring together employers, educators, labour organizations as well as Indigenous partners who will work together to address challenges in their industries, respond to technological changes and an increasing demand for skilled workers.
Multimodal supply chains are the focus for this alliance, including road, rail, air, marine and warehousing. The transportation and warehousing sector contributed nearly $96.5 billion to Canada's GDP in 2024.
Our supply chains, Hajdu says, are only as strong as the people who run them.
"Through this alliance, we are bringing industry, labour and training providers together to deliver the exact skills workers need and employers are searching for. Together with our partners, we are safeguarding Canada's trade corridors, strengthening communities and building an economy where every worker has a place."
Prior to the announcement, Hajdu toured the CN Supply Chain Analytics Lab in the Bissett School of Business. Students as well as Dean Dr. Kelly Williams-Whitt, PhD, and Professor Dr. Rajbir Bhatti, PhD, were on hand to demonstrate the critical role the education sector plays in the same areas of the economy the alliance will address.
The state-of-the-art lab opened in 2019 and allows students to analyze both live and historical business and supply chain data. This combined with the new alliance will continue to allow MRU students to gain hands-on industry experience while in their undergraduate studies.
"The Transportation and Supply Chain Workforce Alliance is an opportunity to promote collaboration and growth in this vital area of Canada's economy and provides students opportunities to learn from industry experts and expand employment options," says MRU student Sophia Greco.
"As a student in supply chain management, I'm grateful to Minister Hajdu and the Government of Canada, Trucking HR Canada and CIFFA for supporting and leading this important initiative."
