Regional employment statistics:

• 152,620 job openings are expected in the Vancouver Island/Coast region to 2020; about 23% of these (34,550) are expected to be newly created jobs.

• The year-to-date unemployment rate of 6.1% (as of January 2013) is lower than the same time last year at 6.6%.

Region-specific activities under the BC Jobs Plan include:

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

• Sliammon Treaty Final Agreement, which provides certainty over treaty lands and support for the First Nation to pursue economic development opportunities in the Powell River area;
• K'omoks Agreement in Principle to build opportunities for this entrepreneurial First Nation in the Comox Valley;
• Nanwakolas Reconciliation Protocol to support seven First Nations in developing their economy through opportunities in forestry, tourism and clean energy.
  
• Huu-ay-aht Forestry Agreement, the first-ever B.C. First Nations' woodland licence, which provides the First Nation with the ability to harvest approximately 70,000 cubic metres of timber per year within a 9,500 hectare area next to their treaty settlement land. The new, long-term, area-based tenure provides increased tenure security and improves the First Nation's ability to secure investments and loans.

The Province approved a major expansion to the Quinsam Coal Mine near Campbell River.

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.

• During the autumn 2012 road show to Vancouver Island, international representatives travelled to Nanaimo, Quadra Island and then Campbell River, with a focus on agrifoods, forestry, bio-energy and manufacturing.

A network of seven education marketing managers are now in place in British Columbia's trade and investment offices in China, India, Korea, and Japan, with additional positions engaged on the international education file in B.C.'s United States and European Union offices.

• This network supports the international education sector by promoting B.C.'s competitive advantages to potential students, identifying and co-ordinating partnerships between B.C. institutions and international organizations, and participating in missions and trade shows.
• The education marketing managers visited B.C. educational institutions throughout the province this spring as part of an orientation tour. Co-ordinated by the British Columbia Council for International Education, the week-long mission included school visits and roundtables involving Royal Roads University, the University of Victoria, Camosun College, Vancouver Island University, North Island College and Vancouver Island school districts.

A series of workshops for local leaders has been tailor-made 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 Vancouver Island local leaders workshop, facilitated by the Economic Development Association of B.C., was held in Port McNeill in February of 2013; workshops in Gibsons, Squamish and Victoria are scheduled for April.

During the Province's trade mission to China and India in November 2011, seven agreements were signed between post-secondary institutions in this region and Chinese institutions and one agreement was signed with a university from India.

Post-secondary institutions in the Vancouver Island/Coast region continue to make advances in international education:

• Since fall 2011, North Island College has signed nine agreements with institutions in China, one from Chile, one from Germany, three from the USA, and one from Denmark.
• In July 2012, Royal Roads University signed a memorandum of understanding with the Sahibzada Ajit Singh Academy (SASA) post-secondary institution in Punjab, India. This agreement formalized a new international partnership that will encourage the progression of students from SASA to Royal Roads.
• During the November 2011 trade mission, Royal Roads University signed four agreements including: Jinan University, the Shanghai Institute of Technology, Tianjin University of Technology and the China Association of Small and Medium Enterprise. The agreements include the creation of joint institutes to deliver emergency and disaster management programs and specialized training in leadership, management, and executive coaching, the development of a joint graduate degree in environmental management, and the delivery of a customized global leadership program for Chinese entrepreneurs.
• In March 2013, Camosun College signed an exchange agreement with the Gold Coast Institute of TAFE (GCIT) of Australia, specific to the Hospitality Management Program at Camosun. Starting in September 2013, each year Camosun will host four GCIT students, during the fall semester (September) and those Australian students will then spend a paid work term in Whistler. In turn, four Camosun students will visit Australia in January for an academic semester, followed by a paid work term.
• In November 2012, Camosun signed a bilateral agreement with Ingolstadt University of Applied Sciences (IUAS) in Ingolstadt, Germany. While Camosun has several bilateral agreements in Europe, this agreement with IUAS will be Camosun's first partnership with a German school.
• Since fall 2011, the University of Victoria (UVic) partnered with three universities and a major research foundation in Brazil to facilitate the exchange of students and faculty, and to increase research collaboration. UVic also signed an agreement between the theatre departments at UVic and Bangkok University.
• UVic's Gustavson School of Business has signed agreements to work with the new Government of the Republic of Tunisia to help develop its administrative capacity and to promote academic collaboration and exchange.

In the K-12 system, a new secondary school opened in Port Alberni adjacent to the North Island College campus, providing students the opportunity to participate in skills training programs offered by the college.

In September 2012, the Province announced an investment of $29.2 million to renew trades facilities at Camosun, which will ensure future heavy-duty mechanics, shipbuilders and other skilled workers are able to get the training they need on southern Vancouver Island. 

The Province has also provided over $3.6 million for new or updated skills training equipment, shared amongst Vancouver Island University, North Island and Camosun Colleges.

Contact:

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