Vancouver/CMEDIA: In a bid reportedly to support labour demands anticipated for upcoming major projects, British Columbia (BC)’s government is investing $241 million over the next three years to boost trades training.
Noting that the funding is BC’s first major increase in skilled trades training in almost 20 years, Premier David Eby made the announcement in Esquimalt on Fri.
With the goal of connecting British Columbians especially young people looking for a long-term home in the province, with “well-paying, high-demand jobs” the extra funding is expected to emerge with a number of major projects on the horizon, the province has said
After listening from both young people concerned about their long-term future in the province and worried about access to skilled labour, Eby said the trades training funding addresses both of those concerns.
“The answer (to), ‘can we build things in British Columbia, Is there a future for young people in British Columbia?’ Is the exact same answer,” he has said. “And the one word answer is, absolutely. Here we go.”
To ensure faster access to training in critical industrial trades that have waiting lists for workers, the province has doubled the $241-million investment of existing funding and will be spent on boosting apprentice programs.
The funding will also help advance certification for certain skilled trades, starting with crane operators.
Following Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney’s announcement in Terrace on Thur about the additions of Ksi Lisims LNG and the North Coast Transmission Line of, BC now has four nation-building projects listed among those being considered by Ottawa for fast-tracking.
LNG Canada Phase 2 in Kitimat and the expansion of the Red Chris copper mine in northwestern B.C. are already on that list, and Eby said the projects will require trades workers to “show up” and “make it real.”
“By dramatically expanding skills training, we ensure projects can move without delay, and that British Columbians are first in line for these jobs,” Eby said.
Eby was joined by the Post-Secondary Education Minister Jessie Sunner and said society has been sending the wrong message about the trades being a “backup plan” for young people in case they don’t get into university.
“Nothing could be further from the truth,” she said, noting that B.C. “cannot build the future we want” without skilled trades. I want this announcement to send a new message…Building the world around us is one of the most important professions that you can have. It is challenging, but it is also deeply rewarding…I built that.’ And you build our province, Sunner has said.
Currently a record number of people ,the province said, are registering as apprentices with almost 50,000 across the province, as well as more than 11,000 participants from high school.
