Today the Province introduced several amendments to the Industry Training Authority Act that will enable the Industry Training Authority (ITA) to lead and deliver trades training in B.C. more effectively.

The act came into force in British Columbia more than 10 years ago in 2003.

The introduction of Bill 7, the Industry Training Authority Amendment Act 2016, fulfils the government’s commitments to refocus the ITA as outlined in the B.C. Skills for Jobs Blueprint, and to implement the recommendations in Jessica McDonald’s independent review of the ITA in 2014.

When the act becomes law, it will:

• Set out the purpose of the ITA and confirms its role in B.C.’s trades training system. No purpose statement currently exists within the legislation.
• Require the ITA to develop and implement a multi-year strategic plan to achieve priorities and targets set by government.
• Require the ITA to engage with stakeholders to provide advice and recommendations on the development and implementation of the strategic plan. 
• Update several administrative components of the existing act, consistent with other Crown corporations and government statutes. 

At the same time, the amendments to the act ensure that the ITA will continue to have the flexibility it needs to respond to skills and trades training priorities quickly and efficiently.

Since 2014, the ITA has completed 14 of the McDonald report recommendations, and has made significant progress on the rest of the recommendations. The B.C. government and the ITA continue to consult with stakeholders and industry partners to implement the remaining recommendations.

As announced in Budget 2016, the Province is increasing ITA funding by nearly $8 million over the next three years specifically targeted to support ITA’s youth programs.

Quick Facts:

• The ITA leads and co-ordinates B.C.’s skilled trades system by working with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades.
• British Columbia invests more than $94 million annually in industry trades training through the ITA.
• Government is increasing ITA funding by nearly $8 million over the next three years, specifically targeted to support ITA’s youth programs.
• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in British Columbia, including almost 50 Red Seal trades.
• Currently, there are more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth), more than double the apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• Currently, there are over 10,000 registered employer sponsors of apprentices in B.C.
• The ITA has issued a total of more than 65,000 Certificates of Qualification to journeypersons in B.C. since 2004.

Learn More:

The Industry Training Authority review and the McDonald Report: http://www.jtst.gov.bc.ca/ITA_Review/

The Industry Training Authority: http://www.itabc.ca/

B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint:  https://www.workbc.ca/WorkBC/media/WorkBC/Documents/Docs/Booklet_BCsBlueprint_web_140428.pdf