December 9, 2011
$1.4 Million For South Vancouver Island Skills Training

VICTORIA – As part of “Canada Starts Here: The B.C. Jobs Plan”, the provincial government is investing over $1.4 million in seven new skills training programs in Victoria. The programs are part of the Employment Skills Access Initiative (ESA).

Why this matters:

  • Through ESA, eligible British Columbians are provided with tuition-free, group-based training at public, post-secondary institutions to prepare them for entry or re-entry into the labour force. 
  • ESA training programs are primarily focused on preparing participants for entry-level employment in industries, sectors or occupations that are currently experiencing, or are projected to experience, labour or skills shortages.

Quotes:

Ida Chong, MLA Oak Bay-Gordon Head
“Camosun and Royal Roads continue to be leaders in post-secondary education. This new funding allows them to expand the range of ESA programs they offer, which means students will get the skills needed to find employment when they graduate.”

Naomi Yamamoto, Minister of Advanced Education
“Higher education is key to our province’s growth and prosperity as we develop the workers of the future. Under the BC Jobs Plan, we’re working with our quality post-secondary institutions to increase learning and employment opportunities, building the foundation for a stronger economy.”

Pat Bell, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Innovation
“This program is another example of our commitment to enhance skills training throughout the province as we work to build an increasingly skilled workforce to meet present and future labour market demands and to provide British Columbians with access to new employment opportunities.” 

Additional Information:

  • ESA programs are funded within government’s existing fiscal plan.   
  • Training programs provided through ESA must be at least three weeks in duration, to a maximum of 12 months, with an emphasis on programs that provide participants with provincially or industry-recognized credentials. 
  • For occupations with established provincial standards for training and certification, training programs must follow and meet those standards.
  • Participants in the ESA programs must be unemployed individuals who have not established an Employment Insurance claim in the past three years, or five years in the case of maternity/parental leave.
  • The Employment Skills Access Initiative is funded through the Canada-British Columbia Labour Market Agreement (LMA). 

Learn More:


BACKGROUNDER
 
Employment Skills Access Initiative
$1.4M for South Island skills training

Camosun College
• $195,300 – Foundations Training for the Maritime Industry, 72 participants. Participants will complete common core entry-level nautical courses in preparation for employment in a number of marine industries.
• $61,920 – On-line Project Management, 8 participants. This 14-week on-line training program teaches all aspects of project management. It provides and introduction to the fundamental theory and approach used to manage projects successfully.
• $103,576 – Aboriginal House Design using AutoCAD, 28 participants. This 12-week training program provides participants with Level 1 AutoCAD training as they create a home design that incorporates west coast Aboriginal design concepts.
• $159,910 – Residential Building Maintenance Worker Level 1 and 2, 32 participants. This 12-week program equips participants with the skills to maintain and repair residential buildings.
• $135,272 – Certificate in Web Foundations, 24 participants. This eight-week program teaches participants how to create well-designed websites.
• $94,864 – MS Office Fast Track, 31 participants. This program quickly introduces participants to applied, practical skills in Microsoft Word, Outlook, Excel, Access and PowerPoint.
• For more information about Camosun College’s training programs, phone (250) 370-4790 or email esa@camosun.ca or visit http://camosun.ca/business-services/contract-training/esap.html

Royal Roads University
• $746,251 – Customer Management Skills Certificate, Business Administration and Accounting Preparatory Skills Certificate, Project Management Associate Skills Certificate, 96 participants. These three programs include a host of courses designed to develop communication, leadership, planning, critical-thinking and problem-solving skills.
• For more information about these programs, phone (250) 391-2600 x 4808
or (250) 391-2600 x 4773 or visit www.royalroads.ca/continuing-studies/employment-skills-program.htm

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Media contact:
Craig Heinz
B.C. Government Caucus Communications
250-356-5352
Craig.Heinz@leg.bc.ca
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