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NEWS RELEASE |
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For Immediate Release |
Ministry of Advanced Education and Labour
Market Development |
VICTORIA
– The Province is investing $5.2 million in training programs to help nearly
1,000 unemployed British Columbians acquire the skills they need to transition
back to the labour force or into further education, announced Moira Stilwell,
Minister of Advanced Education and Labour Market Development.
“The Employment Skills Access Program is another example of how the
B.C. and federal governments are working together to provide new options for
the unemployed, helping them to find and maintain meaningful employment and
further educational opportunities,” said Stilwell. “Our public post-secondary
institutions are well positioned to provide British Columbians with a full range
of training so they can transition to the work force with enhanced skills
during this difficult economic period.”
British Columbia Institute of Technology, Nicola Valley Institute of
Technology, Royal Roads University, Simon Fraser University and the University
of Northern British Columbia will offer a total of 17 intakes across 10
different programs that will provide unemployed workers with general employment
skills or job-specific skills, such as industrial material handling and
logistics and software systems development.
To be eligible for these programs, individuals need to be unemployed
and non- Employment Insurance (EI) clients. The Province is providing a total
of $1.5 million to the five institutions.
“It is clear that the jobs of tomorrow will require additional skills
and training,” said the Honourable Diane Finley, the Minister of Human
Resources and Skills Development. “That is why we are pleased to work with the
B.C. Government and support programs that will help British Columbians come out
of this economic downturn better prepared for the jobs of the future.”
Another $3.7 million has been provided to fund a labour market
consortium made up of 15 colleges and universities to fund training for at
least 615 students across the province. The consortium model features a “hub”
providing centralized co-ordination, support and shared expertise among the 15
member institutions that will deliver training in response to client and labour
demands in their respective regions. The consortium approach supports
government’s goal of enhanced system collaboration.
The B.C. government, working with academic, industry and other
partners, is enabling British Columbians to gain the skills needed to
successfully participate in our provincial labour market, and respond
positively to changing workplace demands.
Under
the Labour Market Agreement (LMA), the Government of Canada is providing the
Province with approximately $66 million annually until 2013-14. Through a
variety of programs, these funds will increase training for individuals who are
low-skilled and require essential skills, or who require recognized credentials
to reach their full potential in the current marketplace. They will also help
increase access to training for unemployed individuals who are not currently EI
clients, including, but not limited to those who are underrepresented in the
labour market.
For more information on the LMA, visit www.WorkBC.ca.
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Contact: |
Craig
MacBride Public
Affairs Officer Ministry
of Advanced Education and
Labour Market Development 250
356-7882 250
213-1649 (cell) |
For more information on government
services or to subscribe to the Province’s news feeds using RSS, visit the
Province’s website at www.gov.bc.ca.
