By Pat Bell
Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training
Nov. 16, 2012

VICTORIA - Under the BC Jobs Plan, government is making significant investments in skills training to ensure that British Columbians are first in line for good jobs that are created here in British Columbia.

An estimated 19,890 job openings are expected in northwestern B.C. by 2020 and 30 per cent of those are expected to be newly created jobs. The anticipated shortage of skilled workers in northern communities is due to growth and investment in the oil, natural gas and other energy sectors in the region. The B.C. government is making a concerted effort to align skills-training programs with the economic needs of B.C. communities.

Through the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Agreement and Labour Market Development Agreement, government is providing jobs training and skills development programs in every region of the province, including 14 programs in northwestern B.C.

To this end, in June 2012, we signed a partnership agreement with the Piping Industry Apprenticeship Board - also known as the UA Piping Industry College of B.C. - to deliver the first-ever piping trades' foundation course in B.C. This course is giving 37 young adults an opportunity to gain skills that are in high demand in the region and will certify participants in welding, plumbing, steam-fitting or sprinkler-fitting. The B.C. government is investing nearly $500,000 in this Labour Market Sector Solutions partnership, which is one of the programs funded through the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Agreement.

Government has also invested $766,682 in a Northwest Transmission Line Labour Market Partnership with BC Hydro to develop and help implement human resource activities to meet current and future labour market needs for large projects in the region through to March 2014.

In 2012-13, the Industry Training Authority is providing more than $1.62 million to Northwest Community College that will allow about 535 people to receive training as carpenters, welders, electricians, cooks and automotive service technicians. In addition, there are almost 800 apprentices already registered in northwestern B.C.

We have incredible economic opportunities in front of us, and we need to focus on our greatest strength - our people - to ensure they have the skills needed to fill B.C.'s jobs, and that our training system throughout the province is meeting their needs. A skilled workforce is, after all, the backbone of our resilient economy.

Each Thursday in November, Premier Christy Clark is asking British Columbians to help address five key challenges to building British Columbia's workforce. I encourage you to join the discussion on: www.bcjobsplan.ca and offer your ideas, feedback and innovative approaches. By participating in the engagement process on the BC Jobs Plan site, you will help get your ideas on the table so government can work with them to get good things done.