VICTORIA – The Government of B.C. has announced that over the next three years it will double trades-training funding through a “landmark investment” of $241million. 

In particular, the money will go towards: 

• increasing per-seat funding for apprentice programs; 

• addressing waiting lists for critical industrial trades; 

• advancing skilled-trades certification, beginning with crane operators; and 

• as opportunities evolve, ensuring workers can move easily between industries. 

Collaboration with unions, industry and post-secondary partners is central to building the programs and workforce B.C. needs, release notes. 

The BC Building Trades (BCBT) celebrated the news and stated this investment was over 20 years in the making.  

“As the backbone of trades training in B.C., the BC Building Trades stands ready to work with the province to build the best apprenticeship system in the country,” said Al Philips, president of the BCBT and business manager and financial secretary for UA170. “This investment marks a historic day in funding the future of skilled trades workers.” 

Over the years, the BCBT has been setting aside $0.35 to $1.50 from every construction hour worked towards training, making up the majority of per-student seat funding for schools, it states. BC Building Trades unions invest over $30 million and sponsor over 5,000 apprentices across the system.  

“To build the critical infrastructure British Columbians rely on, we need more highly skilled and certified tradespeople. This new funding will allow our joint board and union training schools to develop the next generation of trades workers,” said Brynn Bourke, executive director of the BCBT. “BC Building Trades have been subsidizing the apprenticeship system in order to support apprentices and serve the needs of the industry. We welcome this transformational investment in our trades training system and welcome the government as a partner in delivering the most skilled construction workforce in Canada.”