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, over $4 million is being invested over the next three years to support the delivery of community-based training and education through colleges and universities in the Lower Mainland.

Making post-secondary education more affordable:

• Adult Basic Education and English Language Learning are now tuition-free at public post-secondary institutions throughout the province. As many as 18,000 students are benefiting from this initiative.
• Graduate students in the Lower Mainland can apply for $8.5 million in new graduate scholarships, part of a new $12-million scholarship fund to advance research and innovation in B.C. Funding provided, by institution:
  • University of British Columbia: $6 million
  • Simon Fraser University: $2.25 million
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology: $75,000
  • Emily Carr University of Art and Design: $75,000
  • University of the Fraser Valley: $75,000
• Literacy is a vital skill. B.C. is investing $450,930 in partnerships with post-secondary institutions throughout the Lower Mainland to deliver Community Adult Literacy Programs.

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

• The Province is investing more than $1.6 million in industry-standard training equipment to give trades and tech students in the Lower Mainland the skills needed to succeed. Funding provided, by institution:
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology: $500,000
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University: $500,000
  • University of the Fraser Valley: $310,455
  • Vancouver Community College: $310,455
• Women studying computer science, math and engineering at public post-secondary institutions throughout the Lower Mainland can now apply for a $10,000 scholarship to continue their studies.
• Students are gaining real life, on-the-job training through an $825,000 investment in co-op education and work-integrated learning opportunities at Lower Mainland public post-secondary institutions.
• The new high-tech, state-of-the-art Wilson School of Design at Kwantlen Polytechnic University (KPU), funded in part with $12 million from the Province, is providing space for 651 students in a range of design programs at KPU.
• An investment of $300,000 at the University of British Columbia is supporting a full undergraduate bio-economy degree in the faculty of forestry. The British Columbia Institute of Technology has also been provided with $75,000 for forestry and innovative wood products sector training.
• The number one concern for B.C.’s tech sector is access to skilled talent, so more than 1,400 additional spaces in new and expanded programs are being added at institutions throughout the Lower Mainland.
• In 2017-18, the Province invested $29.9 million in 10,864 trades training seats to give trades students in the Lower Mainland the skills needed to succeed in careers where employees are in high demand, including automotive, electrical, millwright, marine fitters and heavy mechanical trades. Funding and number of seats, by institution:
  • British Columbia Institute of Technology: $18 million for 6,933 seats
  • Kwantlen Polytechnic University: $3.4 million for 1,458 seats
  • University of the Fraser Valley: $1.9 million for 615 seats
  • Vancouver Community College: $6.5 million for 1,858 seats

Early childhood education (ECE) and health care:

• B.C. is providing $135,000 to create 20 new health-care assistant seats at Capilano University to increase staffing levels in residential care facilities and community care sectors.
• Additional seats in early childhood education programs are being added to help ensure there are trained professionals. Number of seats, by institution:
  • Capilano University: 15 seats, with a part-time infant and toddler program
  • Langara College: 2 seats (allowing for 12 extra graduates per semester), with increased practicum capacity
  • University of British Columbia: 72 seats over three years
  • University of the Fraser Valley: 12 seats to expand the ECE diploma program