Health and Safety Increasing workplace health and safety was cited as a motivator by 22% of the workplaces.

"There are new regulations on environmental issues... we must now show that due diligence was exercised ...there's no excuse to say someone didn't know."
Frank Bajc, Plant Manager, Alberta Power, Forestburg, AB.

"From the union perspective, we want to be sure that immigrant workers understand the right to refuse unsafe work."
Don Allan, President, United Steel Workers of America, Local 3239, Ancast, Winnipeg, MB.

"Now with increased health and safety regulations, people need more training."
Don Allan, President, United Steel Workers of America, Local 3239, Ancast, Winnipeg, MB.

"We don't know for sure how [many accidents are] related to poor reading ... but my gut tells me there is a relationship."
Lloyd Campbell, Senior Advisor, Organizational Development Group, Human Resources Department, Syncrude Canada Ltd., Fort McMurray, AB.

Job Performance
Direct mention of job performance was made by 22% of workplaces.

"We recognized a need for upgrading...you could see problems in people's work...for example, problems taking inventory, trouble reading memos."
Doug Ellis, Purchasing Manager and Program Tutor, Seaman's Beverages, Charlottetown, PEI.

"There was a need for a better understanding of the layout of patterns in steel manufacturing. People needed basic math to deal with custom work."
Gilles Rouleau, Owner, Manager, Rovan Steel, Sault Ste. Marie, ON.

The theme of downsizing and plant closure ran through many of the interviews. Seventeen percent of respondents said that programs were initiated partly to help employees find other work in the event of layoff.

"I wanted to ensure that the workers could find new jobs if need be."
Sylvain Roy, Union Representative, Bestar, Lac Magantic, PQ.

"We wanted people to be able to move laterally within the industry...and just to have a higher ability to find other work if they are laid off."
Ron Wagner, Plant Chair, Canfor Forest Products, Fort St John, BC.

Finally, many respondents spoke of more general motivations which do not fall into the above categories.

"We wanted to make broad cultural changes in the mind-set of the workPlace... people are no longer required to check their brain at the door."
Bill Stephaniuk, MacMillan Bloedel, New Westminister, BC.

"We wanted people to think and be confident in their jobs."
Brenda Whitman, Treasurer, Joint Workplace Training Committee, BICC Pyrotenax, Trenton, ON.

"We had to modernize to get a competitive edge in the global economy."
Twyla Hurley, Program Coordinator, Crestbrook Forest Industries, Cranbrook, BC.

"We wanted to create a less frustrating work environment ... to build bridges across departments."
Judy Rogers, Deputy City Manager, City of Vancouver, BC.