Advancing the Truth and Reconciliation Commission's Calls to Action and United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples:

• Working through the Aboriginal Community Based Partnership program, more than $2.5 million will be invested over the next three years to support the delivery of community-based training and education through the College of New Caledonia, University of Northern British Columbia and Coast Mountain College with communities including:
  • Ulkatcho First Nation
  • Takla First Nation
  • Tsey Keh Dene Nation
  • Saik’uz First Nation
• Indigenous learners can stay close to home for post-secondary education and training after a $2.6 million investment in new Indigenous student homes on the Prince George campus at the College of New Caledonia:
  • The building will have up to 12 furnished student rooms, a suite for an Elder who will support students, shared living spaces and a designated area for cultural practices, teachings and activities.

Making post-secondary education more affordable:

• Graduate students at the University of Northern British Columbia can apply for $735,000 in new graduate scholarships as part of a new $12-million scholarship fund to advance research and innovation in B.C.
• The studynorthbc.ca campaign launched in September 2017 to encourage more post-secondary students to study and live in the region. The four regional public post-secondary institutions (Coast Mountain College, the College of New Caledonia, Northern Lights College and the University of Northern B.C.) deliver high quality education and training that can open doors to a world of opportunities and possibilities.

Education for a changing world – STEM and the skilled trades:

• The Province is investing $10 million in the Vanderhoof and Quesnel campuses of the College of New Caledonia:
  • The new Vanderhoof Campus is benefiting from a $5.2-million investment for renovations and upgrades, with $5 million coming from the Province.
  • The Quesnel campus is receiving up to $5 million for expansion and upgrades to accommodate the power-engineering program.
• Almost $1 million in industry-standard training equipment has been invested to give trades and tech students at Coast Mountain College, College of New Caledonia and Northern Lights College the skills needed to succeed. Funding provided, by institution:
  • Coast Mountain College: $310,455
  • College of New Caledonia: $310,455
  • Northern Lights College: $310,455
• Women studying computer science, math and engineering at public post-secondary institutions can now apply for a $10,000 scholarship to continue their studies.
• With $400,000 in startup funding this year, and more ramping up over the next four years, the University of Northern British Columbia will soon have 280 spaces in a full civil and environmental engineering degree program.
• The College of New Caledonia has received $250,000 to develop a new civil engineering technologist program. The program will support a total of 50 spaces by 2021-22 and will be the first engineering technologist program in B.C. offered north of Kamloops.
• In 2017-18, the Province invested $7.8 million to fund 2,747 trades training seats to give trades students in Northern B.C. the skills they need to succeed for careers where employees are in demand, including carpentry, electrical, millwright and power engineering. Funding and number of seats, by institution:
  • Coast Mountain College: $1.7 million for 530 seats
  • College of New Caledonia: $4.3 million for 1,623 seats
  • Northern Lights College: $1.7 million for 594 seats

Early childhood education and health care:

• Additional seats in early childhood education programs are being added to help ensure there are trained professionals available. Number of seats, by institution:
  • College of New Caledonia: 12 seats, with delivery in various communities
  • Northern Lights College: 30 seats over three years, with online learning for some courses to expand capacity