The Ministry of Advanced Education has announced funding to help bring more people into trades and update equipment for post-secondary institutions.
Over the next three years, the province will invest $15.8 billion in supporting jobs in construction.
Dean of trades and technology at CNC Frank Rossi says they take in roughly 1,500 to 1,600 students a year, and the funding will help offset that number.
“We have our foundation students, which are entry level students trying to get into the trade itself and turn it into an apprenticeship. We also have our partnership with the school district for Career Technical Centre program. We have our apprenticeship stream of students who are in the industry that are getting upgraded to their red seal certificate.”
In 2017, the B.C. construction industry had 8,395 job vacancies, a 20% increase from the previous year, and 25% of Canada’s overall construction industry job vacancies.
There is also an investment of $5.4 million towards bringing industry-standard training equipment.
“Technology changes regularly in the industry,” added Rossi. “It is difficult for us to, at times, keep up with new trends and new equipment and is somewhat of a challenges, but this funding will help us move forward in trying to meet them.”
CNC will receive $18.5 million for a new training facility and $310,455 for equipment upgrades.
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