The Province announced today that it has invested through the Industry Training Authority (ITA) a combined $1,158,000 to six training providers in Surrey for skills training seats in high-priority trades.

The investments will fund a total of 930 seats through to March 31, 2017. Receiving funding are:

• District Council 38 Joint Trade Society: $470,000 for 346 painter and decorator, glazier, wall and ceiling installer and drywall finisher seats.
• Sheet Metal Workers Training Centre: $343,000 for 256 sheet metal worker and architectural sheet metal worker seats.
• Trowel Trades Training Association: $186,000 for 156 mason, cement mason and tile setter seats.
• B.C. Wall and Ceiling Association: $88,000 for 88 wall and ceiling installer seats.
• Construction and Specialized Workers Union: $36,000 for 48 construction craft worker seats.
• B.C. Floor Covering Joint Conference Society: $35,000 for 36 floorcovering installer seats.

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.

These investments are in addition to the B.C. government’s $3 million in funding announced in July for 1,238 trades seats at Kwantlen Polytechnic University in Surrey.

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:

Peter Fassbender, MLA for Surrey-Fleetwood –  

“Apprentices and their educators are a vital part of our province’s economy; they help fill our labour market demands and keep our economy diverse and strong.”

Gordon Hogg, MLA for Surrey-White Rock –

“These six organizations are strong contributors to our economy and I am happy to see that they have been recognized as a part of this winning solution for B.C.’s economy.”

Marvin Hunt, MLA for Surrey-Panorama –

“Our government is aligning education and training with in-demand jobs. Trades training investments like these are integral to sustaining the upward momentum of B.C.’s economy.”

Amrik Virk, MLA for Surrey-Tynehead –

“These investments will ensure British Columbians have the opportunity to access training in high-priority trades so they are ready to respond to the job opportunities to come.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority –

“B.C.’s economy is growing and is forecast 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.”

Patrick Byrne, director of training, District Council 38 –

“The ITA funding comes at a good time for District Council 38 and our members. This fall we are going to open an expansion of our Surrey Finishing Trades Institute, which will accommodate more young people from all over B.C. looking to certify and get into a finishing trades career.”

Geoff Higginson, interim president, Trowel Trades Training Association –

“The Trowel Trades Training Association’s joint industry stakeholders have worked diligently to deliver effective, economically viable ITA-authorized apprenticeship technical training for more than 10 years. Along with student fees and industry partner subsidies, ITA funding has made it possible to cover the significant expenditures for construction materials, facility operation, administration and instruction services that are incurred for concrete, masonry and tile setting programs and trainees.”

Mark Bevacqua, apprentice co-ordinator, B.C. Floor Covering Joint Conference Society –

“The floor-covering industry is facing a shortage of certified Red Seal installers so it is critical to have an apprenticeship program in place. Some of the biggest issues in the industry are job failures due to improper installation and training. Apprenticeship training is key to the success of future journeyperson installers.”

Leesa Matwick, training director, B.C. Wall and Ceiling Association –

“ITA funding for the Wall and Ceiling Installer program is integral to the ongoing training of apprentices in our industry. There are limited qualified skilled workers for our trade and the programs that the BCWCA and Finishing Trades Institute offer ensure a skilled workforce now and for the future.”

Gary Palmiere, administrator, Construction and Specialized Workers Training Society –

“This funding has been extremely helpful and we have been able to fill all 48 seats and more since the inception of the program. The monies received have been reinvested so that we may provide future training to Level 2 to ensure a pathway to Red Seal certification.”

Quick Facts:

• The 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 the 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