A comprehensive plan to expand skills training programs and align them with economic opportunities across the province was announced yesterday by Premier Christy Clark.
“A skilled workforce is the foundation of a strong and resilient economy,” said Clark.
As part of the BC Jobs Plan, Clark announced that the B.C. government’s plan for a more effective skills and training system will be built on four key areas of action:
- promoting and profiling current training for future careers: government will work to promote the opportunities in the trades and technical fields and improve policies to support these choices;
- investing $75 million to improve training facilities and equipment, and ensuring the availability of technical education teachers, particularly with trades certification;
- getting the right mix and quality of trades and technical programs and reducing the time required to achieve certification while maintaining high standards; and
- matching economic immigration selection to meet B.C.’s labour market needs.
“Our plan ensures that B.C. can supply more skilled workers, more quickly, to meet industry needs. We are taking action to ensure that British Columbians have the skills and supports they need to get the jobs that come with economic growth,” said Pat Bell, minister of jobs, tourism and skills training and the minister responsible for labour.
The government said the changes will help create a pool of skilled talent that puts British Columbians first in line to take advantage of the opportunities from the large investments in the province.
The estimated investment for all major projects currently under construction – projects ranging from shipbuilding to natural gas, mining to manufacturing and transportation to commercial/residential development – is approximately $80 billion. This is an increase of $11.7 billion since June 2011.
$48 billion is projected to be invested in liquefied natural gas (LNG) alone between 2013 and 2022.
