Government is providing $6.1 million for 1,429 additional critical-trades seats in 14 public post-secondary institutions throughout the province to reduce waitlists by an average of 44% for students entering trades that are in demand by a range of industries.

“These critical-trades seats match training with jobs in demand,” said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “The shift in education and training to align with jobs in demand benefits students, employers and the provincial economy.”

The announcement was made at the Interurban campus of Camosun College, where the $30-million Trades Education and Innovation Complex is under construction and nearing completion. The additional $6.1 million includes funding for Northern Lights College to develop trades-training seats that support the skilled-labour requirements for the construction of the Site C Clean dam.

The 1,429 critical-trades seats, as well as the new trades centre at Camosun, support B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint that was launched almost one year ago on April 29, 2014. B.C.’s Blueprint outlines how the Province is re-engineering the education system - from kindergarten through to post-secondary training and beyond - to make sure education and training aligns with B.C. jobs.

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“We are delivering on our Blueprint promise to increase access to critical-trades training seats for in-demand jobs so British Columbians can find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy,” said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour. “This strategic investment will help ensure British Columbians throughout the province have the skills they need to be first in line for jobs of the future and ensure we have the skilled workforce our economy needs.”

The seats include 783 foundation seats and 646 apprenticeship seats in critical trades such as electricians, plumbers, heavy duty mechanics, pipefitters and power engineers. Foundation training programs provide students with the basic knowledge and skills needed for entry into a particular occupation. Students receive credit for the first level of apprenticeship training in a specific field by the Industry Training Authority (ITA) upon successful completion.

“Fulfilling the demand for the skilled trades is a priority for the ITA,” said Industry Training Authority CEO Gary Herman. “These additional critical-trades seats places us on the right track to ensure British Columbians have the skills to be first in line for the many opportunities coming our way.”

The seats will increase training capacity and reduce wait times in trades critical to a range of industries such as construction, shipbuilding and ship repairs, liquefied natural gas, mining, as well as oil and gas.

“This important funding is the welcome operational complement to the Province’s earlier investment in Camosun’s new Trades Education and Innovation Complex set to open this fall,” said Camosun College interim president Peter Lockie. “It allows us to address critical waitlists and deliver training to more students in our trades foundation programs, particularly in the areas of electrical, carpentry and welding, and it means Camosun will continue to be on the forefront of modern trades education, contributing to a prosperous economy locally and throughout the province.”

The announcement of $6.1 million for 1,429 critical-trades seats in 2015-16 builds on the almost $7 million for 1,488 critical trades seats in 2014-15 as well as the $4.4 million for trades equipment. There are also three new trades training facilities currently under construction - Camosun College, Okanagan College and Nicola Valley Institute of Technology.

The Ministry of Advanced Education is providing $5.1 million and the Industry Training Authority is providing $1 million.

B.C. expects one million job openings by 2022. More than 78% of jobs will require some form of post-secondary education, and 44% of jobs will be in skilled trades and technical occupations.

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey-Jones
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400

BACKGROUNDER

Critical-trades seats funding

• Government is providing $6.1 million to reduce waitlists in a number of critical-trades occupations. Below is a list of institutions that shows the number of additional seats, funding and type.

BCIT - 161 critical trades seats and $652,000

• Welding: 32 Foundation seats
• Carpentry: 16 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 16 Foundation seats; 16 Level 1 seats
• Plumbing: 32 Foundation seats
• Power Engineering: 17 Fourth class seats
• Construction Craft Worker: 32 Level one seats

Camosun College - 185 critical trades seats and $497,120

• Carpentry: 28 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 36 Foundation seats
• Steamfitter/Pipefitter: 16 Level 3 seats
• Welding B: 15 seats
• Welding A: 10 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 1 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 2 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 3 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 4 seats
• Plumbing: 16 Level 3 seats

College of New Caledonia - 64 critical trades seats and $330,496

• Electrical: 16 Foundation seats
• Millwright: 16 Foundation seats
• Power Engineering: 16 Fourth class seats
• Power Engineering: 16 Third class seats

College of the Rockies - 80 critical trades seats and $194,440

• Heavy Mechanical Trades: 16 Foundation seats
• Millwright: 16 Level 2 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 2 seats
• Heavy Duty Mechanic: 16 Level 3 seats
• Heavy Duty Mechanic: 16 Level 4 seats

Kwantlen Polytechnic University - 64 critical trades seats and $237,280

• Welding: 16 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 16 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 2 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 3 seats

North Island College - 43 critical trades seats and $243,560

• Welding: 11 Foundation seats
• Heavy Mechanical Trades: 16 Foundation seats
• Plumbing: 16 Foundation seats

Northern Lights College - 64 critical trades seats and $361,600

• Power Engineering: 16 Fourth class seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 1 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 2 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 4 seats

The funding includes $150,000 to deliver training programs related to the construction and operation of the Site C Clean Energy Project. This is in addition to the above seats.

Northwest Community College - 166 critical trades seats and $729,120

• Welding: 16 Foundation seats
• Carpentry: 32 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 18 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 32 Level 3 seats
• Plumbing: 16 Foundation seats
• Professional Cook: 36 Level 1 seats
• Professional Cook: 8 Level 2 seats
• Professional Cook: 8 Level 3 seats

Okanagan College - 152 critical trades seats $766,560

• Welding: 16 Foundation seats
• Carpentry: 32 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 36 Foundation seats
• Heavy Mechanical Trades: 18 Foundation seats
• Professional Cook: 18 Level 1 seats
• Welding:  32 Level B seats

Selkirk College - 36 critical trades seats and $199,440

• Welding: 18 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 18 Foundation seats

Thompson Rivers University - 70 critical trades seats and $387,840

• Welding: 18 Foundation seats
• Carpentry: 18 Foundation seats
• Heavy Mechanical Trades: 18 Foundation seats
• Millwright: 16 Foundation seats

University of the Fraser Valley - 132 critical trades seats and $462,800

• Welding: 16 Foundation seats
• Heavy Mechanical Trades: 20 Foundation seats
• Welding Level B: 16 seats
• Electrical:  48 Level 2 seats
• Electrical:  16 Level 3 seats
• Electrical: 16 Level 4 seats

Vancouver Community College - 32 critical trades seats and $143,440

• Heavy Mechanical Trades: 16 Foundation seats
• Heavy Duty Mechanic: 16 Level 1 seats

Vancouver Island University - 144 critical trades seats and $772,640

• Welding: 50 Foundation seats
• Electrical: 18 Foundation seats
• Power Engineering: 32 Fourth class seats
• Electrical:  16 Level 2 seats
• Heavy Duty Mechanic: 16 Level 1 seats
• Professional Cook: 12 Level 2 seats

Nicola Valley Institute of Technology - 36 critical trades seats and $138,720

• Electrical: 20 Foundation seats
• Plumbing: 16 Foundation seats

As Nicola Valley Institute of Technology is not yet an Industry Training Authority-designated training provider, these seats will be delivered in partnership with Okanagan College.

Media Contacts:

Stacey McGaghey-Jones
Communications Manager
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 952-6400