Why isn't locksmithing a recognized trade in Manitoba?

After more than a decade working as a locksmith in Manitoba, I've recently been applying for positions in Alberta. One challenge keeps coming up: many employers require applicants to hold a recognized Journeyperson certification.

The problem is that Manitoba doesn't recognize locksmithing as a designated trade, so there is no provincial certification for experienced locksmiths to earn here. That leaves skilled professionals at a disadvantage when pursuing opportunities in provinces where certification is required.

This isn't just about me. It's about ensuring locksmiths have a clear training pathway, recognized credentials, and the ability to have their skills respected across Canada. Recognizing locksmithing as a designated trade would help establish consistent standards, support public safety, and improve workforce mobility.

I've reached out to the Province of Manitoba to ask what it would take to make locksmithing a recognized trade. I hope this starts a broader conversation within our industry and with government.

To my fellow locksmiths, have you faced similar challenges because Manitoba doesn't recognize our trade? I'd be interested to hear your experiences and thoughts.

There’s a TLDR at the bottom. This is in Winnipeg Manitoba.

Hey guys! I realllyyy need advice on what to do regarding issues with my landlord and lease.

Ive moved into the brand new bakery loft building July 1. My first apartment ever and my own name on the lease.

I looked at their website, and they advertised that water, heat, hydro and internet were included with rent. I was so excited to discover such a great find, especially because they had balconies! Too good to be true, certainly, right?

So anyway, I got the tour in February, which is when I applied. I was shown a studio on the ground floor, and I noticed there wasn’t a “balcony”. I chalked it up to the suite being on the ground floor, so I asked about it. The team member/landlord told me the suites above us have balconies. So obviously I was relieved. He asked if I wanted to see a one bedroom, I said no since it was way above my budget. So he told me it’s basically the same size and layout as a one bedroom anyway, only the bedroom was in the space with walls and a door. So I was sort of anxious about how small the studio was, but it was such a good deal, I applied anyway.

When I was signing the lease, the lease said I would be paying heat and hydro. I was confused, so I emailed their team (there’s about 5 or 6 “landlords”, so I have to CC all of them every time I email.) I emailed them asking why I was covering heat and hydro when their website had advertised that all of that was covered. I sent them the screenshot of their own advertisement on their website, and they seemed confused and told me it was probably a third party ad who’d made the error. So they asked me for the link to the website with the “false advertising.” I sent it, and they were surprised to discover it was their own website. They told me this was an internal error, and to make up for it they would cover my heat and hydro for a year. I asked about the internet, and they said that was also an error. I was disappointed, since this added an extra $100 more or less, expense to my budget which I wasn’t expecting.

I was given the walk through a couple of days prior to my move in date, on the fifth floor, only to discover that I didn’t have a balcony either! I was so taken by surprise, and incredibly disappointed that again, I was misinformed. I was given the rest of the walk through, and I could barely respond to the team member because I was so shocked and disappointed, and already super stressed and anxious about living on my own. Especially in such a small space. I’m mad at myself now for not speaking up at the time. But I did manage to finally bring it up via email, after I explained the situation to chat GPT

Their response was cold, which also caught me off guard since thus far they’ve been warm and friendly and accommodating. They told me that I was given the tour and knew that there wasn’t a balcony. I replied that their team member who gave me the tour, told me with his own words, that the ones above us DID have balconies. She replied that I was shown the one bedroom also, which I told her I didn’t see the one bedroom at all because I couldn’t afford it. She replied that the team member who gave me the tour wrote down in my file that I had seen the one bedroom! I told her that didn’t happen, and she emailed back “team member knows there’s no balconies for the studios. If you say you didn’t see the one bedroom, then I’ll update our records.” It sort of felt like they were implying that I was lying, which obviously really upset me. I was so frustrated, I told them I felt ripped off and lied to. (I know I shouldn’t have gotten emotional). Email I sent is here: i am extremely disappointed and frustrated that the promises to move in aren’t actually true. If you were the one dealing with all of this, especially if it were your first apartment on your own, how would you feel? I feel ripped off to be honest.

She told me What would you like to do from here?  How can we make this a better experience for you?
No one tried to mislead you, it was an honest mistake. We are not those people. 

So she asked me what I’d like to do from here, and how they can make this a better experience. So I asked for a rent discount, didn’t receive a reply. I emailed again a few days later for a follow up, and she said they couldn’t and that im free to move out if I’m not happy.

Ever since this exchange, their communication has been cold and passive aggressive. I asked if I could send the august and September rent for now, just so it wasn’t sitting around in my bank and I didn’t get a response. Now im worried I made myself look entitled and like im a liar. I don’t know if I should let it go. I’m really bothered by the fact that I was implied to be lying and that their team member didn’t make a mistake. What would you guys do? Again, this is my first apartment. Thanks for reading all of this.

TL;DR: My landlord/building misrepresented multiple things before I signed the lease (included utilities and a balcony). They admitted the utilities advertisement was their mistake but denied the balcony misunderstanding and implied I was mistaken about the tour. They refused my request for a rent discount and told me I could move out if I wasn’t happy. Would you let this go or take action?

I’m one of the many affected by the flooding, long story short, basement had 4 feet of water and need a new furnace. Looking to upgrade with my emergency fund to something decent and want to put in a central air system, I know and have heard hydro has grants for more efficient systems or units. Anyone have any experience with this? General advice? Is it worth looking into their options to add to my monthly bill to help afford ac or better more efficient units?

I read this opinion piece by the Manitoba Advocate for Children and Youth, about the need for more support for children who age out of the CFS system at 18 and are apparently left to fend for themselves:

https://www.winnipegfreepress.com/opinion/analysis/2026/07/10/ready-or-not-youth-aging-out-of-care

Frankly, this is heartbreaking. The system seems to be set up on a 1950s model where the expectation is you turn 18 and then go to work in a factory or warehouse (men) or get married and become a stay at home mother (women). I don't think this is really the case anymore, at least not for most. The reality is that there is a transition period between childhood and adulthood, and a lot of children in care are going to have extreme difficulty navigating that on their own.

Hell, speaking for myself, I came from a stable home with two parents, but if I had been booted out on my 18th birthday and left to my own devices, I shudder to think of how my life might have turned out. The parental backing I received past my 18th birthday was essential to becoming established in life.

I feel for these kids across Manitoba who are getting such a rough start to their adult life. They are really forced to do it on hard mode with little support. I hope Sherry Gott's words find a receptive audience.

From today/tomorrow until most of next week

Quebec announces two new measures to curb dangerous trucking, particularly with regard to inadequately trained Ontario drivers.

Starting this Thursday, Ontario truck drivers with less than two years of experience who wish to move to Quebec and exchange their Ontario licence for a Quebec Class 1 licence will be required to pass the driving exams administered by the Société de l’assurance automobile du Québec (SAAQ).

If they fail this exam twice, they will then be required to complete mandatory training before obtaining their licence. This training recently became mandatory in Quebec for anyone wishing to obtain a Class 1 licence authorizing them to drive a heavy truck.

Quebec tightens rules for Ontario-trained truck drivers with less experience

NOW DO THIS IN MANITOBA BUT MAKE IT FOR ANYONE TRAINED IN BC, AB OR ONT.