The B.C. government is investing $500,000 to extend a mining and environmental training project that will allow 35 people to receive the supports and services they need to find work in the mining or energy sectors.

Government is providing the funding for this project through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA). The Pacific Trail Pipelines Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership Training Society (PTP ASEP) will deliver the Mining and Environmental Training Initiative, which provides participants with training, industry-recognized certification, job coaching and job placement services.

The program supports an increasing demand for skilled labour in regional mining and energy projects throughout British Columbia and increases the number of trained and qualified First Nations individuals that can be employed as entry-level technicians. The program consists of:

• A 16-week Mineral Processing Operating course that the College of New Caledonia will deliver in the Burns Lake/Fraser Lake area.

• A five-week Environmental Technician Certificate course that Vancouver Island University will deliver in two cohorts - one in the Prince George/Fort St. James area and one in the Burns Lake/Fraser Lake area.

To qualify for the program, participants must be First Nations individuals, either unemployed and not in receipt of Employment Insurance (EI), or employed but low-skilled. In addition, they must not have received or been eligible for EI in the last 36 months, and they cannot already be a student. The first intake of new sessions is scheduled to begin May, 2013.

This project builds on initial government funding of $500,000 for the program. PTP ASEP reports that the project has resulted in 30 of 35 of the original participants completing the training, 14 of those obtaining employment, and the remainder going on to receive further training or job placement supports. PTP ASEP is partnering with several companies and organizations in the delivery of this program, including:

• O'Brien Training Ltd.

• First Nations communities in north central and northwest B.C.

• College of New Caledonia.

• Vancouver Island University.

PTP ASEP implements Aboriginal training-to-employment programs for participants from their 15 First Nations partners with a goal to reduce Aboriginal people's barriers to employment, including low-level education and lack of opportunity.

As a direct result of federal Labour Market Agreement (LMA) funding, thousands of British Columbians are receiving training that will advance their careers, assist in securing new employment and ultimately improve the social and economic outcomes of individuals in B.C. and Canada.

Government is actively creating awareness and encouraging Aboriginal people to consider careers in the trades through programs like the Aboriginal Community-Based Delivery Partnerships Program and the Aboriginal Training for Employment Program. The programs are supported by the BC Jobs Plan and the BC Skills and Training Plan, which invests $75 million for new capital and equipment to complement $500 million in annual investments in skills and trades training programs.

Quotes:

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour -

"British Columbia has experienced a strong resurgence of mining and energy projects over the past six years. Government is committed to building a skilled workforce that will meet the needs of industries throughout British Columbia. The Mining and Environmental Training Initiative program will help First Nations people acquire valuable skills to successfully fill job openings in the mining and energy sectors."

Diane Collins, executive director, PTP ASEP Training Society -

"We look forward to continuing to serve our partner communities with relevant training and job placement opportunities."

"Our job coaches, instructors and partners assist in creating the best chance for our graduates to get ready for work. Companies are welcome to come into the classroom and engage with the students and many do. At PTP ASEP we are working to see our clients all engaged in meaningful employment and/or further training."

Quick Facts:

• By providing support to sectors and employers experiencing changing labour market conditions, the Labour Market Sector Solutions program helps to address needs by providing training to eligible individuals.
• The program invests in the skills development of eligible participants and assists sectors, industries, employers and workers to address any identified labour market imbalances.
• Under the LMA, the Government of Canada is providing the B.C. government approximately $66 million annually until 2013-14.
• The Canada-British LMA funds programs and services for employed people who are low-skilled and for unemployed individuals who are not eligible for EI.

Learn More:

PTP ASEP Training Society: www.ptpasep.ca/

College of New Caledonia: www.cnc.bc.ca/

Vancouver Island University: www.viu.ca/

Labour Market Sector Solutions Program: www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/sector-partnerships/labour-market-sector-solutions-program.htm

WorkBC skills training programs:www.workbc.ca/Education-Training/Programs/Pages/Employment-Programs.aspx

Industry Training Authority: www.itabc.ca

Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement information: www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/labourmarketagreement/

BC Jobs Plan: www.bcjobsplan.ca/

BC Skills and Training Plan: www.bcjobsplan.ca/skills/

Ideas2Actions - results of the Skills4BC online discussion:www.bcjobsplan.ca/ideas-to-actions/

Contacts:

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

PTP ASEP Training Society
Diane Collins, Executive Director
#300 - 1460, 6th Ave.
Prince George, B.C. V2L 3N2
250 561 1115