After Rustad decimated and devalued the trades, BC NDP to train more people for careers that help them get ahead

CHILLIWACK - At the new LiUNA and Teamsters training facility in Chilliwack, David Eby announced his plan to double the number of people who can train for family-supporting jobs in the skilled trades to build the hospitals and homes people need.
“British Columbians deserve affordable homes, good schools, and modern hospitals–and many are looking for opportunities that will help them get better paying jobs,” said Eby. “By training more people for great careers in the skilled trades, we’ll help them get ahead and give them the skills they need to build the things our growing province needs. The same projects John Rustad is planning to cancel.”
Eby’s plan would invest $150 million over three years in SkilledTradesBC to double the trade apprentice seats from the current 26,000 to over 50,000. This commitment will ensure trainers and educators are available for all British Columbians wanting to start a good-paying career in the skilled trades. Apprenticeships that will be covered include training to become a bricklayer, industrial electrician, machinist, plumber, and many other trades. With record construction starts and completions, these are the workers British Columbia needs to keep building.
“If we are going to build the critical infrastructure B.C. requires like hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit, we need more highly skilled and certified tradespeople,” said Brynn Bourke, executive director of the BC Building Trades Council. “This new funding will allow trades training providers like our joint boards to develop the next generation of trades workers. Trades training funding is vital to the future of this province.”
John Rustad’s old government fired Trades Ambassadors and removed the need for a Red Seal, discouraged people from pursuing trades careers and creating skilled labour shortages that drive up project costs. Their own government’s report said their elimination of skilled trade certification was a “one-size-fits-all” approach that “strained” the system.
“John Rustad broke our skilled trade and apprenticeship system to fund a tax cut for the people who were already at the top,” Eby added. “There’s a reason not a single other province followed B.C.’s lead after they eliminated skilled trades certification – it was a mess. Our plan will help people pursue a well paid future in the skilled trades to build up our province and make life better for everyone.”
Eby’s plan builds on the new made-in-BC Skilled Trades Certification that equips tradespeople with a recognized certification, so they have steady work and can quickly move to the next job after a project ends. The new certification encourages more people to choose a career in the trades to support employers and fix labour shortages–providing more opportunities for women, Indigenous people, and young people in the process.