Premier Christy Clark and Premier Stephen McNeil have signed an agreement in principle to enhance workforce co-operation and increase the mobility of skilled workers between British Columbia and Nova Scotia.

"Shipbuilding and ship repair is worth billions of dollars in our two provinces and we will continue to need trained workers in the coming years," said Premier Clark. "This agreement means employers will have access to a deeper talent pool, and workers will have more opportunities in a growing economy."

Premier Clark made the announcement during the 2015 Summer Meeting of Canada’s Premiers.

Both provinces remain committed to a long-term partnership to support innovative practices in training skilled workers and enhancing the mobility of marine tradespersons, as well as other aspects to help ensure labour market needs are met in both jurisdictions.

“This is a perfect partnership, and one in which our economies and our workers will benefit,” said Premier McNeil. “Our two provinces each have a strong and booming shipbuilding industry. Working together we will deliver top notch training for our skilled trades workers and help ensure our respective labour market needs continue to be met as these industries grow.”

British Columbia and Nova Scotia acknowledge that co-operation on workforce development and the mobility of skilled people are necessary to support the economies of both provinces, including a successful shipbuilding and industrial marine industry.

"Today's announcement of provincial support for trades training in Canada's shipbuilding industry is a good and timely reminder of the career opportunities available for many years to come in British Columbia's marine sector," said Jonathan Whitworth, CEO of Seaspan. "Seaspan is developing and growing a world-class shipbuilding and ship repair centre of excellence on the West Coast and we will need to be a beneficiary of these new commitments to deliver successfully under the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy."

In 2012, the B.C. shipbuilding and ship repair sector supported a total of 4,627 direct and indirect jobs. Estimates suggest that by 2020 more than 4,000 direct and indirect jobs will become available, primarily on Vancouver Island and in the Lower Mainland.

This agreement supports the commitment in the B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to re-engineer education and training to ensure people have the skills required for in demand jobs.

British Columbia and Nova Scotia will prepare a Memorandum of Understanding between the two provinces to address the following priorities:

a) Sharing and leveraging best practices in marine trades training, including the evaluation of international training models; and,

b) Assessing the application of innovative training delivery models for marine sector trades training and jointly developing and implementing identified new models as appropriate.

Media Contacts:

Sam Oliphant
Press Secretary
Office of Premier
250 952-7252