Office of the Premier
Premier Christy Clark announced $375,028 for the College of New Caledonia (CNC) to purchase new trades training equipment in 2014-15 to support students studying in-demand fields that are critical to LNG and other industries.
“We want B.C. students to have every possible advantage,” said Premier Clark, who made the announcement during a keynote address at the BC Natural Resource Forum. “Hands-on experience using industry-standard trades-training equipment is an important part of developing the best trade students in the business.”
CNC is using the funds to acquire new equipment and to continue to keep up with industry and curriculum requirements.
“Students at the College of New Caledonia will directly benefit from our investment in new trades training equipment,” said Advanced Education Minister Andrew Wilkinson. “Hands-on experience using the latest industry standard tools means students will continue to graduate with skills that are being sought after by employers.”
“A career in the trades provides people with the opportunity for long-term, well-paying jobs that strengthen our families and communities,” said Prince George-Valemount MLA and Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training Minister and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond. “New equipment, along with the additional 72 trades training seats at CNC announced last year, means greater opportunities for students to get the skills they need to get ahead.”
“With a million job openings by 2022, our government is committed to making sure students and workers have the skills they need to get ahead,” said Prince George-Mackenzie MLA Mike Morris. “It’s important for students to get the hands-on experience using industry-standard equipment, and CNC students will have that opportunity thanks to this new investment.”
Equipment includes a fibre fusion splicer for the electrician students, updated welding machines for the welding students and a PRO Link Ultra Elite Scanner for the heavy-duty mechanic students.
“With the growing demand for skilled trades people, there’s never been a more important time to help students get the training they need,” said College of New Caledonia president Henry Reiser. “This investment by the government comes at the right time to position our students for a rewarding career in British Columbia.”
Consultations with post-secondary institutions, the Industry Training Authority (ITA), as well as the most-recent labour-market data, informed funding allocation decisions.
The $375,028 is part of B.C.’s Blueprint commitment of $185 million for trades training infrastructure and equipment at public post-secondary institutions.
Launched in April 2014, B.C.’s Skills for 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.
Learn more:
B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/skills
B.C.’s 2022 Labour Market Outlook: http://ow.ly/DOw6R
Media Contacts:
Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252
Richelle D. Funk
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 889-7494
Annette Stevens
College of New Caledonia
250 561-5878
BACKGROUNDER
New equipment supports trades training programs
The 18 eligible trades training programs, in the top 60 list of in-demand occupations, delivered by B.C.’s public post-secondary institutions are:
- Carpenters
- Chefs/cooks/bakers
- Concrete finishers
- Construction craft workers
- Crane operators
- Electricians
- Gas fitters
- Heavy equipment operators
- Heavy mechanical trades
- Insulators
- Iron workers
- Machinists
- Millwrights
- Plumbers
- Power engineers
- Sheet metal workers
- Steam/Pipefitters and Sprinkler System Installers
- Welders
Media Contacts:
Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of the Premier
250 952-7252
Richelle D. Funk
Ministry of Advanced Education
250 889-7494
Annette Stevens
College of New Caledonia
250 561-5878
