New training funding for LNG industry workers

Employers in the construction sector will now be able to apply for funding to help their current and future employees upgrade their skills, thanks to two complementary funding programs from the B.C. government and LNG Canada.

Recognizing the importance of the construction sector to B.C.’s economy, especially with the generational opportunity that the liquefied natural gas (LNG) sector presents, these two funding streams will help provide employees with the skills and training they need to fill available jobs.

LNG Canada will introduce the LNG Canada – Trades Training Fund, a new program that will provide a total of $1 million to employers in B.C. in support of industry and apprenticeship training in the construction sector to build a workforce to meet the needs of the LNG industry.

“The $1 million LNG Canada Trades Training Fund will enable British Columbians to benefit from careers in all industries, and particularly the emerging LNG industry,” said Andy Calitz, LNG Canada CEO. “By collaborating with government and the BC Construction Association, we can support construction employers and their apprentices with access to funding for training and skills development to fully realize job opportunities.”

The fund will be administered by the BC Construction Association (BCCA) and details of the training fund, including eligibility criteria and application dates, will be available on the BCCA website at:www.bccassn.com and the LNG Canada website at: www.lngcanada.ca

“This is the kind of collaboration between private sector and government that puts real advantages in the hands of our young people,” said Manley McLachlan, president, BC Construction Association. “We’re all for it.

“The BC Construction Association is honoured to support LNG Canada in its efforts to help construction employers get their new and existing apprentices the training they need to reach their trade qualification.”

To complement this new Trades Training Fund, companies in the construction sector can also apply to the Canada-B.C. Job Grant (CJG) which will provide $500,000 for employee training occurring before April 1, 2016.

The Canada-B.C. Job Grant is a three-way partnership between the federal and provincial governments as well as employers. Government provides two-thirds of the total training cost for an employee up to $10,000 per person, while the employer is responsible for the remaining one-third of the training cost.

Eligible employers will be able to receive funding from the LNG Canada – Trades Training Fund to offset their one-third share of the CJG training cost.

Information on CJG eligibility criteria, application procedures and dates are available on WorkBC’s website at: https://www.workbc.ca/canadabcjobgrant. Additional CJG applications will be accepted in January 2016 and program details will be available at WorkBC.ca in December 2015.