Canadians will be better equipped for the well-paying middle-class jobs of today and tomorrow as a result of a $13.8-million investment in the College of New Caledonia for a new heavy-mechanical trades-training facility.

Of the $13.8-million investment:

• $6.9 million is being provided by the Government of Canada, and
• $6.9 million is being provided by the Government of British Columbia.

The college will contribute an additional $1.2 million for a total investment of $15 million.

This joint federal-provincial investment was announced today by the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development, Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie, and Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and MLA for Prince George-Valemount, on behalf of Andrew Wilkinson, B.C. Minister of Advanced Education.

The funding will enable construction of a new heavy-mechanical trades-training facility at the College of New Caledonia in northern British Columbia. The project will provide up-to-date facilities for students to gain skills that will prepare them for jobs in industries such as oil and gas, forestry and hydro-electricity.

The new 2,326 square-metre (25,000 square-foot) trades facility will replace leased facilities and accommodate 251 existing full-time equivalent (FTE) spaces and up to 48 new student FTEs in the heavy-duty equipment technician and truck and transport mechanics program. This represents an increased capacity of 19%.

(flickr.com)

The building will meet LEED Gold building standard, with a net zero increase in energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions that will help the college meet its carbon-neutral objective.

Funding will be allocated through the Post-secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund, which will enhance and modernize research facilities on Canadian campuses and improve the environmental sustainability of these facilities.

The Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda aims to make this country a global centre for innovation — one that creates jobs, drives growth across all industries and improves the lives of all Canadians. The investment at the College of New Caledonia exemplifies that vision in action.

Nearly one million job openings are expected in British Columbia over the next decade, and eight out of 10 of these openings will require post-secondary education. In-demand occupations requiring post-secondary education or training range from professional to management to trades.

The College of New Caledonia has provided training and education for residents in northern British Columbia since 1969. The college serves an area approximately 117,500 square kilometres, or 12% of the province at its six campuses (Prince George, Quesnel, Mackenzie, Vanderhoof, Fort St. James and Burns Lake).

Construction is slated to get underway shortly, generating 53 direct and 41 indirect jobs, with project completion expected in spring 2018.

Quotes:

The Hon. Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development –

“This once-in-a-generation investment by the Government of Canada is a historic down payment on the government’s vision to position Canada as a global centre for innovation. That means making Canada a world leader in turning ideas into solutions, science into technologies, skills into jobs and start-up companies into global successes. This investment will create conditions that are conducive to innovation and long-term growth, which will in turn keep the Canadian economy globally competitive.”

Mike Morris, MLA for Prince George-Mackenzie –

“By investing in a new heavy-duty training facility, we are putting the tools of success into the hands of students. This new facility will provide trained workers to support in-demand jobs throughout B.C. and help build our growing economy.”

Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, and MLA for Prince George-Valemount –

"There are expected to be up to one million job openings in B.C. over the next ten years, many of those in the skilled trades and many in the North. We also know that investing in training in our region is critical to keeping talent in northern British Columbia. A new heavy-mechanical trades-training facility will give students at the College of New Caledonia the skills they need to access jobs that support their families and help grow our economy."

Henry Reiser, president, College of New Caledonia (CNC) –

“CNC works with local and regional industries and employers to determine what skills they need their employees to bring to the job. Our new heavy-mechanical trades-training facility will enable students to develop practical skills that match employers’ needs, in up-to-date facilities. Experiential hands-on learning, such as this, reinforces textbook theory in a way that complements the entire educational process.”

Connor Cameron, foundations student, first year heavy-mechanical trades at CNC –

“I knew that heavy-mechanical trades would connect me to a booming industry with lots of well-paid work opportunities. The College of New Caledonia’s new Heavy-Mechanical Trades facility will benefit me as a student in many ways. The extra space to accommodate a diverse collection of machinery will improve my hands-on training, help reduce my future apprenticeship waitlists, and make it more functional working alongside other students on projects.”

(flickr.com)

Quick facts:

• The Government of Canada’s Innovation Agenda is designed to ensure Canada is globally competitive in promoting research, translating ideas into new products and services, accelerating business growth and propelling entrepreneurs from the start-up phase to international success.
• The targeted, short-term investments under the Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund will promote economic activity across Canada and help Canada’s universities and colleges develop highly skilled workers, act as engines of discovery, and collaborate on innovations that help Canadian companies compete and grow internationally.
• The Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund supports the Government of Canada’s climate change objectives by encouraging sustainable and green infrastructure projects.
• As part of B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, the provincial government has provided the College of New Caledonia with an additional $755,679 for 168 critical trades seats and $3.1 million for new industry standard training equipment.
• The new heavy-mechanical trades-training facility is part of the commitment by the provincial government to invest $185 million in trades-training facilities and equipment throughout the province as outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint.

Learn More:

Canada’s Innovation Agenda: www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/062.nsf/eng/home

Innovation Agenda backgrounder: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1084739

Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund: www.ic.gc.ca/eic/site/051.nsf/eng/home

Post-Secondary Institutions Strategic Investment Fund backgrounder: http://news.gc.ca/web/article-en.do?nid=1105379

B.C. Skills for Jobs Blueprint: www.workbc.ca/training-education/b-c-s-skills-for-jobs-blueprint.aspx

Follow Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development on social media:

Twitter: @MinisterISED

Follow BC Jobs Plan on Twitter: @BCJobsPlan