I would like to inform local employers that the new Canada Job Grant program is open for business in British Columbia.
The Canada Job Grant will provide up to $15,000 per person for training costs such as tuition and training materials (up to $10,000 from the federal government and $5,000 from employers) resulting in training that leads to guaranteed jobs for British Columbians.
For details on how to apply, employers should visit www.workbc.ca/canadabcjobgrant.
The Canada Job Grant is part of the $65 million in funding the federal government will provide to B.C. through the Canada-British Columbia Job Fund Agreement and will compliment other skills training initiatives, including the Apprenticeship Incentive Grant and the Apprenticeship Completion Grant that together makes $4,000 available to students who go through apprenticeship programs.
Over the next 10 years it is estimated that Canada will need 300,000 new workers in the construction sector, up to 150,000 new workers in the petroleum sector and 145,000 new workers in the mining sector.
In British Columbia alone, BuildForce Canada estimates that between 2013 and 2021, approximately 54,500 new workers will need to be recruited for the construction industry, while the Mining Industry Human Resources Council estimates that the B.C. mining industry will need to recruit over 10,000 workers by 2022.
Employment and Social Development Minister Jason Kenney is calling on employers, unions, educators and governments to work together in order to make a compelling case to young Canadians for a future in the skilled trades. I know local institutes like Okanagan College are fully on board and it was a pleasure to talk with OC president Dr. Jim Hamilton about OC’s efforts when he visited Ottawa recently.
As parents we all want our children to get the education and support they need to find meaningful and gainful employment. As Minister Kenney has noted, training in the skilled trades is proving to be as valuable as going to university and getting an academic degree. By encouraging young people to look to the skilled trades through programs like the Canada Job Grant, we are not only ensuring young Canadians find rewarding employment, we are ensuring that Canada’s productivity, competitiveness and continued economic growth remains on track.
Veterans Occupational Stress Injury satellite office to open in Kelowna
I was pleased to learn that Kelowna has been chosen as one of the locations for a new satellite Operational Stress Injury (OSI) clinic which will improve access to mental health services for serving CAF members and Veterans with mental health injuries.
Veterans Affairs Canada (VAC) established its first operational stress injury clinic in 2002 and since then has added clinics to form a network of 10 specialized clinics across Canada.
Funded by VAC, all clinics are operated by provincial health authorities and work closely with health care providers and organizations in the community.
I look forward to receiving more details about location and staffing as they become available.
