Regional employment statistics:

• By 2020, British Columbia will see more than one million job openings, with 18,000 of those forecasted for the Northeast.

• The unemployment rate of 4.4% in September 2012 is slightly higher than the same month last year at 4.3%.

Region-specific activities under the BC Jobs Plan include:

The Northeast is central to government's burgeoning liquefied natural gas industry. The Coastal Gas Link Project will develop approximately 700 kilometres of pipeline to link Montney Basin, near Dawson Creek, to Kitimat.

The Province is investing $222 million in the Oil and Gas Rural Road Improvement Program and the Sierra Yoyo Desan Road to improve industry access to resources in the Horn River and Cordova basins.

The Province has reached agreements with First Nations to provide certainty for investors and more opportunities for Aboriginal communities and families. This includes:

• The Fort Nelson Economic Benefits and Oil and Gas Consultation Agreements, which benefit the region by establishing a clear process for consultation and management of lands and resources between the Fort Nelson First Nation and the Province.
• Kaska Strategic Engagement Agreement, which encompasses 9.8 million hectares, or 10 per cent of the province, from the Fort Nelson area to the Cassiar Mountains down to Mackenzie.  

A series of workshops for local leaders has been developed to provide participants with training related to a full range of economic development activities in their communities, including attracting investment and supporting new and existing ventures.

• The workshops are designed for elected local government and First Nation officials and their staff.
• A Northeast local leaders workshop, facilitated by the Economic Development Association of B.C., was held in Fort St. John in March of 2013.

British Columbia's trade and investment representatives from key international markets have made a series of visits and tours throughout the province.

• These road shows allow the international representatives, who are based in priority markets throughout Asia, Europe and the United States, to build partnerships and relationships with B.C. businesses and communities in key regions and sectors, including natural gas, mining, biomass and technology.
• The autumn 2012 road show visited the Northeast in late October, with stops in Fort St. John and Fort Nelson, and a focus on natural gas and energy.

In November 2012 the Province announced that Northern Lights College will lead oil and gas training in B.C. under the Skills and Training Plan as the headquarters of the BC Centre of Training Excellence in Oil and Gas.

In fall 2012, the provincial government announced nearly $800,000 to upgrade skills training equipment at Northern Lights College.

Northern Lights College continues to make advances in international education:

• In 2012, Northern Lights College signed a Memorandum of Cooperation with the Jiangsu Technical Transportation College in China. Through this agreement, 10 students from China will complete an 18-month air craft maintenance program at the Northern Lights College Dawson Creek campus.  This agreement may be expanded to include wind turbine and oil and gas training opportunities. Northern Lights College is also currently exploring opportunities to offer mining sector training to international students.
• In September 2012, Northern Lights College launched a new Post-Degree diploma in Business Management. In September 2013, the college is anticipating welcoming approximately 30 new students from India to the Fort St. John campus and is anticipating that another cohort of Post-Degree Business Management students from India will be studying on the Dawson Creek Campus.

A Northeast regional workforce table was established in June 2012. Its primary deliverable is a regional skills training plan, which was released in January 2013. The plan will be implemented collectively by key partners in the region who will work closely with government throughout implementation.

Contact:
   
Media Relations
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
250 387-2799