New funding promises to help Manitoba aerospace sector soar

It’s an investment that could see the number of new jobs in Manitoba soar.

The Government of Manitoba announced Tuesday it will be investing more than $500,000 into Winnipeg-based StandardAero, in partnership with the federal government, to create new training opportunities and jobs in the province.

“We’re going to be training up more than 1,000 Manitoba workers and creating 100 new good jobs at StandardAero,” said Premier Wab Kinew to applause Tuesday morning. “We’re big believers in you: the workers of Manitoba, the people who show up each and every day. You are what power our economy here.”

Flanked by two gigantic jet engines, Kinew said the investment, which he described as very important, is being made in the “workforce of tomorrow.” Manitoba’s premier said the aerospace industry helps support the province’s base systems, like health care and education.

Pointing to the recent election in the United States and turbulence around the world, the premier said it’s critical for the province and country to have a strong standing when it comes to security. He believes StandardAero will play a crucial role in supporting the U.S. and Canada’s allies on that front around the world.

“Your strength in the aerospace industry is really going to help us put that message forward, to say that Manitoba and Canada are really important partners in keeping the world secure and safe going forward into the next generation.”

The funding, under the Canada-Manitoba Workforce Development Agreement, will see roughly $510,000 go toward StandardAero’s skills development between 2024 and 2027.

The federal minister responsible for Prairies Economic Development Canada, Dan Vandal, joined the premier on behalf of the Government of Canada, saying growing the economy is a priority.

“That’s what this announcement is about,” said Vandal. “Making sure that you, making sure that Manitobans, have the skills they need to be active in the next generation’s labour force.”

Brent Osterman, vice-president of product assurance and quality at StandardAero, said the funding will help the company continue to make advancements in an industry that’s always changing.

“As we’ve grown in the industry here, we’ve gotten into a lot of new technology, a lot of new inspection methods,” said Osterman.

“This doesn’t only allow us to support some of our traditional training, which would be disassembling engines, dismantling engines and assembling engines, it allows us to support different programs through different technologies.”

Osterman said the funding will be used to create 100 new technician jobs, adding without the funding support, StandardAero would have had to examine its options around new training. He says it may not have happened at all, or would have forced them to look for the training in other jurisdictions.

“Without this money, we’d be doing it on our own,” he said.