As British Columbia’s liquefied natural gas (LNG) industry develops, demand for workers is expected to increase dramatically.

The B.C. government is investing in two new programs to ensure Aboriginal workers can better access jobs generated by LNG development. The Province is providing $387,000 for the North Central LNG Strategies Program to help 112 members of the Lheidli T’enneh First Nation and Mcleod Lake Indian Band enhance their employability and occupational skills.

An 11-month-long, workforce-development component of the program offered in Prince George and McLeod Lake will provide support services, such as employment counselling, job-readiness training and work placements, for up to 100 First Nations members. An occupational certification component will train 12 participants for careers in environmental monitoring and offer health and safety certifications which are pre-requisites for many different jobs. Training will run for 26 weeks and take place in Prince George.

The B.C. government is also investing $321,000 in Skills Connect: Training for First Nations Workforce Development Practitioners. This program will develop a pool of 15 talented Aboriginal instructors and workforce development practitioners in the Cariboo/Nechako region. These practitioners will provide employment coaching, mentoring and essential skills training to First Nations members. Program participants will be selected from a group of 17 northern First Nations.

The North Central LNG Strategies Program and Skills Connect: Training for First Nations Workforce Development Practitioners will be delivered by the Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association (PGNAETA).

Both programs get underway this fall and are being funded through B.C.’s Aboriginal Skills Training Development Fund. Introduced earlier this year, the fund aligns with B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and will provide up to $10 million annually over the next three years for Aboriginal skills training.

Offering community-driven skills training is part of the Province’s efforts to include First Nations communities and Aboriginal people in LNG sector opportunities. British Columbia is also working with First Nations communities on environmental stewardship priorities and financial benefits agreements.

Quotes:

John Rustad, Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation –

“Skills training is one of the keys to prosperity as the LNG industry grows in B.C. These community-driven programs will provide First Nations people with transferable skills and greater access to good jobs and an improved quality of life.”

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour –

 “Increasing Aboriginal participation in skills training is critical to the future success of British Columbia. Aboriginal youth are the fastest-growing demographic in our province with half under the age of 25. Programs like these will provide Aboriginal people with the skills and work experience necessary to find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy."

Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie –

“These community-based skills training programs will provide First Nations members in this region with the kind of skills that will help get them job-ready for careers here in Northern B.C.” 

Chief Dominic Frederick, Lheidli T’enneh First Nation –

"We are embarking on an exciting new partnership between McLeod Lake Indian Band, Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association and Lheidli T'enneh under the North Central LNG Strategies Program to ensure that young Aboriginals are better able to access employment and to compete more fully in the job market. This initiative and new partnership is very exciting and timely and we are very excited to be involved in an initiative that will elevate the employment and skills status of our peoples." 

Karin Hunt, Executive Director, Prince George Nechako Aboriginal Employment and Training Association –

“We’re training tomorrow’s workforce today! Young and promising Aboriginal people will be prepared and equipped to meet the growing need for skilled workers here in the North.”

Quick Facts:

• Aboriginal people are a priority in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.
• More than 40,000 Aboriginal British Columbians live in northern communities and almost half of all Aboriginal people in B.C. are under 25 years old.
• WorkBC’s Find Your Fit tour is part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint commitment to re-engineer education and deliver the skilled workforce B.C.’s growing economy needs. Seven regional LNG energy seminars are currently scheduled to take place throughout the province in November.
• Find Your Fit is an interactive event where individuals of all ages can find out about careers in demand throughout the province, learn about online resources to help them find work and even try some of the skills they will need for different careers.
• The tour connects participants with labour market information and tools and resources through WorkBC.ca’s Blueprint Builder.
• Find Your Fit has connected with Aboriginal students throughout the province at numerous locations including Hazleton, Prince George, Moricetown, Prince Rupert and Vancouver.
• The Find Your Fit Tour will be in Fort St. James on Nov. 24 and Prince George, Nov. 26-27, 2015.

Learn More:

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/skills

Lheidli T’enneh First Nation: http://www.lheidli.ca/  The word Lheidli means "where the two rivers flow together" and T'enneh means "the People".

McLeod Lake Indian Band: http://www.mlib.ca/new/  “Connecting and growing together.”

Find Your Fit website and calendar: https://www.findyourfittour.ca/