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Feds announce trades funding in Delta

The UA Piping Industry College of British Columbia will receive $9 million to create a pool of certified skilled tradespeople ready to fill available jobs in the Lower Mainland and across the province.
Federal trades funding announcement
Delta’s UA Piping Industry College of British Columbia was the virtual host for a federal investment for the skilled trades industry earlier this week.

Delta’s UA Piping Industry College of British Columbia was the virtual host for a federal investment for the skilled trades industry earlier this week.

Local MP and the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, announced $63.5 million, over five years, for 68 projects as part of the Union Training and Innovation Program (UTIP) 2020 call for proposals. This investment will help certify skilled tradespeople and prepare them to fill available jobs as the economy restarts.

The UA Piping Industry College of British Columbia will receive $9 million to create a pool of certified skilled tradespeople ready to fill available jobs in the Lower Mainland and across the province.

The money will be earmarked for its Inclusion in the Trades from Upgrading to Red Seal Certification project. This initiative will help more than 500 apprentices — including more than 300 from key groups facing barriers — successfully enter and complete their training through programing focused on skills improvement. The college will also work to eliminate barriers, such as accessibility and distance to training, and build partnerships with community stakeholders that will lead to better apprenticeship outcomes. 

“As we continue to fight this virus, our support for workers remains strong,” said Qualtrough. “Skilled tradespeople across the country have been critical to essential sectors during this pandemic, and they will continue to be so as Canada moves toward economic recovery. This investment will help Canadians, including Canadians from key groups facing barriers, get the training they need to launch exciting and well-paying careers in the trades.”

William Schwarz, director of operations for the college, said they are excited to get to work with this new funding and hopefully open new doors of prospect and opportunity to people throughout the province who would not have had this opportunity in the past.