December 12, 2011
$1.8 Million For Vancouver Skills Training
Vancouver – As part of “Canada Starts Here: The B.C. Jobs Plan”, the provincial government is investing over $1.8 million in seven new skills training programs in Vancouver. The programs are part of the Employment Skills Access Initiative (ESA).
Why this matters:
Through ESA, eligible British Columbians are provided with tuition-free, group-based training at public, post-secondary institutions to prepare them for entry or re-entry into the labour force.
- ESA training programs are primarily focused on preparing participants for entry-level employment in industries, sectors or occupations that are currently experiencing, or are projected to experience, labour or skills shortages.
Quotes:
Margaret MacDiarmid, MLA Vancouver-Fairview:
“This funding for training will make a difference for unemployed people in Vancouver. It will help them to get the skills they need in order to find good jobs in the future.”
Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of Advanced Education:
“Higher education is key to our province’s growth and prosperity as we develop the workers of the future. Under the BC Jobs Plan, we’re working with our quality post-secondary institutions to increase learning and employment opportunities, building the foundation for a stronger economy.”
Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation:
“This program is another example of our commitment to enhance skills training throughout the province as we work to build an increasingly skilled workforce to meet present and future labour market demands and to provide British Columbians with access to new employment opportunities.”
Additional Information:
- ESA programs are funded within government’s existing fiscal plan.
- Training programs provided through ESA must be at least three weeks in duration, to a maximum of 12 months, with an emphasis on programs that provide participants with provincially or industry-recognized credentials.
- For occupations with established provincial standards for training and certification, training programs must follow and meet those standards.
- Participants in the ESA programs must be unemployed individuals who have not established an Employment Insurance claim in the past three years, or five years in the case of maternity/parental leave.
- The Employment Skills Access Initiative is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA).
Learn More:
BACKGROUNDER
Employment Skills Access Initiative
$1.8M for Vancouver skills training
Langara College
• $334,489 – Advanced Administrative Skills, 75 participants. This 13-week program offers high-level administrative skills and business communication skills for senior and advanced employment.
• $359,509 – Office Administration Skills, 90 participants. This nine-week program trains and prepares participants with entry-level administrative skills.
• For more information about ESA training programs at Langara College, phone Kofi Ohene-Asante at (604) 304-0124 or email kofi@langara.bc.ca.
Vancouver Community College
• $68,024 – Building Management, 32 participants. This 12-week program enhances the skills and employability of participants in the field of building management and services.
• $111,442 – Business Readiness for New Canadians, 32 participants. This 14-week program provides participants who have business experience gained internationally with the skills they need for employment in business administration in BC.
• $106,874 – Access to Transportation Trades, 32 participants. This 12-week program trains students for entrance into the transportation and warehousing industry.
• $88,559 – Auto Refinishing, 16 participants. This 20-week program offers skills needed for employment in the auto refinishing industry.
• For more information about Vancouver Community College’s training programs, please call (604) 443-8646 or email esa@vcc.ca
Labour Market Consortium (Capilano University, Langara College, University of the Fraser Valley, Douglas College)
$800,079 – WorkStart Essentials, 180 participants. This program has three different streams of training: a Retail and Hospitality Customer Service program, a Business and Computer Essentials Program, and an Introduction to the Trades Program. For more information about this training program, email esa@capilanou.ca.
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Media contact:
Thomas Marshall
B.C. Government Caucus Communications
250-387-8589
Thomas.Marshall@leg.bc.ca
