Prime Minister Stephen Harper visited Delta Thursday to announce an apprentice loan program aimed at getting more young people into trades.
The prime minister made the announcement at BCIT's Annacis Island vocational campus, where Harper, standing in front of a large group of truck mechanic students, noted the country needs many more skilled tradespersons if infrastructure projects are to be built and the economy is to grow.
"Apprenticeships play an important role in Canada's post-secondary education system and are a key provider of the vital skills and knowledge necessary to power and grow the Canadian economy," he said.
"The Canada Apprentice Loan initiative will allow young people from across the country to access jobs in the skilled trades that are in-demand in different sectors and regions - from shipbuilding in the east, to mining in the north, to oil and gas projects in the west."
The expansion of the student loan program , part of the government's Economic Action Plan 2014, will provide access to interest-free loans. The loans will help apprentices address the costs they encounter during technical training, including educational fees, tools and equipment, living expenses and forgone wages.
It will be managed by the Canada Student Loans Program, within Employment and Social Development Canada.
It is estimated that at least 26,000 apprentices a year will benefit from over $100 million in loans.
Some of those on hand for Thursday's event included Delta-Richmond East MP Kerry-Lynne Findlay, who said Delta is a vital link in the national economy.
