The British Columbia government announced today an investment of $401,000 in the Roofing Contractors Association of B.C. (RCABC) for skills training in high-priority trades seats.

Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove, and Mary Polak, MLA for Langley, announced the funding today on behalf of Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour, during a tour of the RCABC facility in Langley.

The investment, through the Industry Training Authority (ITA), will fund 320 seats in the roofer, architectural sheet metal and residential steep roofer programs 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:

Rich Coleman, MLA for Fort Langley-Aldergrove –

“The B.C. government is aligning education and training with in-demand occupations. Trades training investments like this are essential to maintaining the economic upswing in the Fraser Valley and throughout B.C.”

Mary Polak, MLA for Langley –

“The RCABC has been training apprentices for the province’s roofing industry for more than 20 years and its services are needed now more than ever. B.C. can expect to see almost 1 million more jobs by 2025 and we want our young people to be ready for them.”

Gary Herman, CEO, Industry Training Authority –

“There is growing interest in trade careers throughout the province and the investment announced today will ensure British Columbians have the opportunity to access training in high-priority trades so that they are equipped with the right skills to respond to the job opportunities to come.”

Bryan Wallner, CEO, Roofing Contractors Association of B.C. –

“The Roofing Contractors Association of B.C. has had a relationship with the provincial government for more than 20 years, delivering technical training to literally thousands of workers in our industry. Like many trades, we are focused on attracting, training and retaining workers in our industry. This funding is critical to that effort and to ensuring that we are able to meet the projected construction growth in the province with trained, qualified workers.”

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