Apprenticeship Manitoba 2023 Recommendation Went Unanswered While the Freeze Stayed in Place

Upon review by a journalist, past Apprenticeship Manitoba meeting minutes are now being examined more closely. It was brought to our attention that, in November 2023, Apprenticeship Manitoba's own board meeting minutes confirmed a recommendation for de-designation had already been approved, but had not received ministerial approval. Instead, a moratorium was kept in place on new electrologist apprenticeship applications, leaving the freeze in effect for four years with no clear path forward. This means the issue was identified, reviewed, and brought back for next steps — yet Manitoba electrologist applicants remained blocked from entering the trade.

What the 2023 Meeting Minutes Revealed

The November 2023 Apprenticeship Manitoba board meeting minutes (section 3.3) document that the Board had previously reviewed the electrologist trade in 2018 and approved a recommendation to the Minister for de-designation in 2019. However, that recommendation was never acted upon. Instead, the Minister placed a moratorium on new electrologist apprenticeship applications — a freeze that remained in place for four years without ministerial approval for de-designation or any alternative pathway being established.

The board meeting also noted that the Service Sector Committee recommended allowing a supervision exception, which would permit an apprentice to enter into an apprenticeship agreement without being supervised by a certified journeyperson, if minimum requirements are met. This recommendation was brought forward as a potential path to address the deadlock.

Years of Review With No Resolution

What makes this especially significant is the timeline: a formal review was completed, a recommendation was made, and the issue was brought back for next steps — yet nothing changed for electrologist applicants during those four years. No new apprenticeship registrations were permitted. No trade qualification applications were accepted. No public timeline was communicated.

This pattern of internal review without public action or outcome is exactly what advocates have been raising concerns about. The 2023 board meeting confirms that the freeze was not simply a forgotten administrative matter — it was actively identified as an unresolved issue requiring next steps.

Why This Matters

Manitoba remains the only province in Canada blocking new electrologists from entering the field. While other provinces allow new practitioners to train, certify, and serve the public, Manitoba has maintained a regulatory freeze that has contributed to a shrinking workforce, clinic closures, and reduced access to a regulated service.

The 2023 board minutes provide documented evidence that the issue has been flagged internally — and yet electrologist applicants in Manitoba continue to face a closed door. This is why advocates are calling on the Manitoba government to act transparently, publish a clear timeline, and create a reasonable pathway forward.

Official Board Meeting Minutes: Section 3.3

*The highlighted yellow sections below are key points from the official minutes.*

View Official Board Meeting Minutes (PDF)

3.3 Trade of Electrologist Review — Closed

The Manager of Policy, Legislation and Board Operations reviewed the trade of Electrologist. In 2018, the Board reviewed the trade and in 2019, approved a recommendation to the Minister to de-designate following a review of the trade. The Minister placed a moratorium on new Electrologist apprenticeship applications, which has been in effect for four years. The trade has not received approval for de-designation since that time. Therefore, it was determined that the trade should be addressed to consider next steps.

Comments: The Manager of Policy, Legislation and Board Operations advised the Board that the Service Sector Committee recommended that the Board amend the trade regulation to include a supervision exception, which would allow an apprentice to enter into an apprenticeship agreement in the trade without the need to be supervised by a certified journeyperson, if minimum requirements are met.

Board Discussion & Questions

Q: Has it been a challenge to put together an Industry Working Group for Electrologist?

A: There is no Industry Working Group for Electrologist.

Comments: The Manager of Policy, Legislation and Board Operations advised that the Service Sector Committee Chair has requested additional time to reach out to other jurisdictions to see what other provinces were doing with the trade.

Q: If we choose not to accept the Sector Committee recommendation, what happens?

A: We would inform the Service Sector Committee Chair of the Board's decision and that the Committee would need to come to a new recommendation for the Board.

Comments: A Board member advised that they liked the recommendation as an opportunity to see if the industry could be successful with a supervision exemption. Other Board members confirmed that the Service Sector Committee recommendation provided time to see if there is interest, and in two to three years, the Board can review the trade again and recommend de-designation if no additional enrollment is seen over that period. A Board member stated that two years may not be enough time to get the trade back up and running and suggested lifting the moratorium.

Board Motions

Motion 2023.11.05: The Apprenticeship and Certification Board accept the Service Sector Committee recommendation to amend the Trade of Electrologist Regulation to allow for the administration of a supervision exemption for apprentices in the trade of Electrologist with review for de-regulation of the trade after three years, if there is continued low enrollment in the trade at that time.

Consensus: 7 in favour, 0 opposed, 0 abstained

Motion 2023.11.06: The Apprenticeship and Certification Board recommend that the Minister lift the moratorium for apprentice registrations in the trade of Electrologist.

This official statement confirms what advocates have long stated: the issue has been identified, reviewed, and brought back for consideration — yet no clear path forward has been provided to electrologist applicants.

Read the Full Meeting Minutes

The complete November 2023 Apprenticeship Manitoba board meeting minutes are publicly available. Read Meeting Minutes — Section 3.3

Take Action

If you believe the Manitoba government should act on its own board's recommendations and provide a clear path forward for electrologist applicants, we encourage you to:

• Contact your MLA and ask them to raise this issue in the legislature
• Email the Minister of Business, Mining, Trade and Job Creation at minbmtjc@manitoba.ca

Manitobans deserve transparency, a public timeline, and a reasonable pathway for electrologists to enter the trade.