NDP Closure of MITT Another Blow to Manitoba’s Battered Economy
WINNIPEG — The closure of the Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology is another blow to Manitoba’s battered economy that will result in fewer students graduating into high-demand, well-paying jobs, said Lac du Bonnet MLA Wayne Ewasko, PC Critic for Education.
In an online memo to students and staff Wednesday, MITT says, “The Province of Manitoba has decided that MITT will wind down operations, and selected programs will transfer to Red River College Polytech (RRC Polytech).” Fewer programs offered, means fewer students graduating, and fewer students entering the workforce, noted Ewasko, who previously served as the PC Minister for Advanced Education.
“This is an NDP government that is once again picking winners and losers, and it’s another job-killing NDP policy,” said Ewasko. “First, the NDP rolled back the apprenticeship ratio from 2-to-1 to 1-to-1. Then, the Manitoba Jobs Agreement pitted unionized workers against non-unionized workers. Now this—reducing the number of skilled trades graduating into high-demand jobs. No wonder Manitoba’s economy is now ranked last in Canada.”
MITT graduated over 4,500 students per year from programs like welding, carpentry, automotive technology, mechanics, healthcare aides, and early childhood education. About 85% of MITT students land a job after they graduate. There is currently a skilled trades shortage in Manitoba. The closure of MITT will lead to fewer seats offered to students and a reduction in the number of graduates.
“The Kinew government is reducing choices for Manitoba students and their families,” said Obby Khan, Leader of the Official Opposition, whose Fort Whyte constituency is home to MITT’s main campus. “At this critical time when our economy is being threatened by U.S. tariffs and trade uncertainty, we should be powering up Manitoba’s workforce to create jobs for the future. Instead, the NDP are reducing opportunities for students to have successful, long-lasting, high-demand careers.”
“This is a sad day for our province to lose a school of this calibre,” said Ewasko.
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