PREMIER ANNOUNCES $2.8 MILLION FOR MINING TRAINING

VANCOUVER – The Province and the federal government will invest a total of $2.8 million to help youth from rural and First Nations communities in northwestern B.C. get the hands-on experience they need to develop exciting careers in the mining industry, Premier Gordon Campbell announced today.

“B.C.’s exploration and mining industry has grown to record levels, as demonstrated by the latest exploration numbers announced last week,” said Premier Campbell. “This investment will help ensure youth from rural and First Nations communities have the chance to connect with the job opportunities that growth is creating and build careers in an industry that has a proud history and a bright future in B.C. This reflects B.C.’s Pacific Leadership Agenda priorities to enhance our economic competitiveness by expanding training opportunities, particularly for Aboriginal British Columbians.”

“By working collaboratively with the Province of British Columbia through our Pan-Canadian Innovations Initiative, we are training the next generation of mining workers and we are laying a strong foundation for B.C.’s prosperous future,” said the Honourable Monte Solberg, Minister of Human Resources and Social Development. “The tremendous growth of the B.C. mining industry is helping drive the provincial economy, and Canada’s New Government supports programs that promote collaborative partnerships between First Nations, communities, educational institutions and industry to help meet the training demands of this thriving industry.”

The Province is providing $900,000 in funding and the federal government will contribute $1.9 million for the Reclamation and Prospecting Program, a pilot program that will be launched in the spring by Northwest Community College in partnership with the Smithers Exploration Group (SEG). Participants will receive on-the-job training in mineral prospecting, site evaluation and bush safety. They will also learn how to identify and assist in the environmental reclamation of old or abandoned mine sites.

“Northwest Community College looks forward to partnering with local First Nations to enhance skills development and employment opportunities,” said Stephanie Forsyth, president of Northwest Community College.

More than 28,000 people in more than 50 B.C. communities are employed in the mineral exploration and mining sector: 10,300 in mining and the rest in exploration, smelting, refining and downstream mineral processing. It is estimated that an additional 8,500 additional jobs will available by 2010.

“The mineral industry in northwestern B.C. is proud of its commitment to sustainability, and this opportunity to work with First Nations youth in reclaiming abandoned mine sites is part of that commitment,” said Chris Warren, president of Smithers Exploration Group.

The Province has invested over $2.3 million to expand training for youth from rural and Aboriginal communities to address the labour needs of the mining industry, one of the most vibrant areas of job creation in B.C., through initiatives like the Mining Rocks – Career and Job Opportunities Tour 2006, the Mining Education Network, the Aboriginal Minerals Training and Employment Program and the Northwest School of Exploration and Mining. The Province launched B.C. Mining Job Strategy 2006 in response to the training needs of this expanding sector and is currently developing a similar approach for 2007.

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Media contact:	Mike Morton Press Secretary Office of the Premier 250 387-1715	Lesley Harmer Office of the Honourable Monte Solberg Minister of Human Resources and Social Development 819 994-2482
	Jake Jacobs Public Affairs Officer Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources 250 952-0628 250 213-6934 (cell)
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