The BC Building Trades is pleased by commitments in Budget 2018 that will provide the support and services necessary for the next generation to start their careers in the construction industry.
“We want to build B.C. better, and this budget will help us get there,” said BCBT president Dave Holmes. “The significant capital investment of $15.8 billion over three years and support for apprentices and women in trades will not only benefit our industry but the province as a whole through a legacy of skills training and employability.”
Budget highlights for the construction sector:
• Implementing apprenticeship ratios on government-funded infrastructure projects and increased participation of under-represented groups in the skilled workforce.
• A commitment to providing resources for women in trades to gain needed skills and secure sustainable employment.
• Leveraging a new Canada-BC Workforce Agreement to ensure vulnerable, unemployed and under-employed people can access skills training.
• Investing more than $1 billion in child care, which will have a direct and meaningful impact on construction workers raising young families.
• Investing over $7 billion in housing over the next 10 years – the largest investment in B.C. history. This will create construction jobs for our members as well as needed housing.
Holmes also lauded the government’s commitment to work collaboratively with private training institutions to apply proactive quality assurance measures and improve public confidence in the system through compliance with mandatory quality standards.
“BCBT affiliates invest more than $18 million annually in apprenticeship and training to ensure our members do their best work, and do it safely. We expect these same high standards at every institution and welcome any measures that achieve that goal.”
IBEW Local 213 is an affilate of the BC Building Trades and our Business Manager Adam Van Steinburg is the BCBT Vice President.