The Province announced today that it has invested, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), $20,000 in Greenbelt Veterinary Services for skills training seats in the Dairy Production Technician program.

The investment will fund 16 Dairy Production Technician seats through to March 31, 2017.

The funding is part of the ITA’s allocation to B.C. post-secondary institutions and training providers to run various training programs throughout the province.

In response to the objectives outlined in B.C.’s Skills for Jobs Blueprint and the McDonald Report, the B.C. government has worked in partnership with the ITA to begin building a demand-driven trades training system with funding aligned to specific in-demand trades.

The provincial government invests more than $94 million annually in industry training through the ITA. The ITA leads and co-ordinates British Columbia’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.

Quotes:

John Martin, MLA for Chilliwack—

“Apprentices and their educators are an invaluable part of our provincial and Fraser Valley economy. They help fill our labour market demands and keep our economy diverse and strong.”

Laurie Throness, MLA for Chilliwack-Hope—

“Greenbelt Veterinary Services has provided top-notch veterinary care to the Fraser Valley for more than 40 years and I am happy to see that the importance of its dairy apprenticeship program has been recognized.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority—

“B.C.’s economy is growing and is forecasted to be one of Canada’s strongest in the coming years. With more skilled tradespeople retiring from the workforce than entering it, investments like these will help equip British Columbians with the right skills to respond effectively to the upcoming job opportunities in the province.”

Dr. John Dick, veterinarian, Greenbelt Veterinary Services—

“Without the essential funding we receive from the Industry Training Authority it would be very difficult for us to provide technical training for the Dairy Production Technicians. This funding allows us to teach at the UBC Dairy Education and Research Centre and keep the cost of tuition reasonable for the apprentices. The end result of this program is the creation of highly skilled graduates who enter the B.C. dairy sector firmly grounded in best-practices techniques in animal care and on-farm technical skills.”

Quick Facts:

• ITA provides more than 100 apprenticeship training programs in B.C., including almost 50 Red Seal trades.
• There are currently more than 39,000 registered apprentices in the industry training system (including youth) – more than double the 14,676 apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
• B.C. is expecting up to one million job openings by 2025 due to retirements and economic growth.
• Eight of every 10 of these job openings will require post-secondary education or trades training.

Learn More:

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

B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint: https://www.workbc.ca/Training-Education/B-C-s-Skills-for-Jobs-Blueprint.aspx

B.C. Labour Market Outlook: www.workbc.ca/Labour-Market-Information/B-C-s-Economy/Reports.aspx