The B.C. government has followed through on its commitment to ban mandatory high heels in the workplace.

More than 7,000 British Columbians will be trained by this fall through a wide range of skilled-trades and employment training projects throughout the province, thanks to $45.4 million from the provincial and federal governments in 2016/17.

The Province is providing $480,600 as part of a Sector Labour Market Partnership project with the Association of BC Marine Industries (ABCMI) to conduct an assessment of the labour force in B.C.’s industrial marine sector.

Skilled trades students in three capital region school districts will benefit from a three-year, $15-million investment by the B.C. government to support youth trades programs with the purchase of new trades training equipment.

As part of the BC Jobs Plan commitment to work with communities to build their economic development capacity, and following stakeholder feedback, several resources have been developed by the Province to support communities in local economic development efforts.

The Province intends to move ahead with an amendment to the Firefighters Occupational Disease Regulation under the Workers Compensation Act to add presumptions for breast cancer, prostate cancer and multiple myeloma as occupational diseases for firefighters.

The B.C. Aboriginal Business and Investment Council (ABIC) has updated its website to make it easier to do business with First Nations companies, promote economic development among Aboriginal communities, and showcase the successes of Aboriginal businesses throughout the province.

 The B.C. government has committed more than $55,000 for a new labour market partnership project with meat processors in the province to help identify their labour needs.

The Province and the BC Association of Aboriginal Friendship Centres (BCAAFC) have been working together on two labour market projects aimed at helping more youth join British Columbia’s workforce and recruiting others who want to work in Aboriginal non-profit organizations.

The latest international visitor numbers continue to show positive increases, which is good news for British Columbia’s flourishing tourism industry.