The BC Food Processors Work! program is a part of a Labour Market Sector Solutions project with the BC Food Processors Association (BCFPA). This program involves working with food processors in the Lower Mainland to meet their demand for workers with basic food industry skills.

BCFPA expects to help 120 participants over a 20-month period of multiple and continuous intakes. Participants must be Labour Market Agreement eligible - meaning they are unemployed, non-Employment Insurance individuals, or are employed, low-skilled individuals.

Program participants will receive two weeks of in-class training, and will be matched with various employers from the Lower Mainland for a two-week practicum. At the end of the program, graduates receive four individual certifications:

• Orientation to the Food and Beverage Processing Industries
• National Sanitation training
• Introduction to Quality Assurance in the Food Processing Industries
• Essential Skills and Food Industry Terminology with ESL component

BC Food Processors Work! is supported by $213,290 in funding through the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement.

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation -

"Programs like this one with the BC Food Processors Association are so important because they really focus on making the participants as employable as possible. This program offers a two-week paid practicum with the potential for full-time employment upon graduation. It's a great opportunity for anyone looking for a long-term, stable career."

Don McRae, Minister of Agriculture -

"B.C.'s agrifoods sector is incredibly diverse, and so are the career and employment opportunities it offers. This program provides participants with the training and experience to join the more than 61,000 British Columbians already working in B.C.'s agrifoods sector and producing foods that are enjoyed locally and around the world."

Nico Human, CEO, BC Food Processors Association -

"Our members are facing an ever-growing demand for workers who have the basic skills for food industry work. That's what this program is all about - giving people who don't have access to training an education for a full-time job in a high-demand industry. We're very excited to be able to partner with many of our members on this project, and hopefully change some lives in the process."

Quick Facts:

* The objective of the Labour Market Sector Solutions program is to invest in the skills development of eligible participants, while assisting industries/sectors, employers and workers to address labour market needs throughout B.C.

* Over the next decade, British Columbia is projected to have over one million job openings. The BC Jobs Plan will ensure the over $500 million provided annually for labour market and training programs is targeted to meeting regional and industry labour market needs.

o As part of this annual expenditure, B.C. invests approximately $66 million a year - between 2008 and 2014 - in programs and services that help people get the skills they need to fill job opportunities in regions where they live and study. These programs and services are funded through the Canada - B.C. Labour Market Agreement (LMA).

Learn More:

• BC Food Processors Association: http://www.bcfpa.ca/home
• For more information on the Canada - British Columbia Labour Market Agreement, visit:http://www.aved.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketagreement/
• Canada Starts Here: The BC Jobs Plan: http://www.bcjobsplan.ca/
• Looking for a one-stop resource for the working world? Visit WorkBC: http://www.workbc.ca/

Contact:

Government Communications and Public Engagement
Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
250 356-7104