June 28, 2010
$247,000 Boost for Skills Training in Greater Victoria

VICTORIA– Funding of $247,000 will support new essential skills training opportunities for up to 200 residents of Greater Victoria.

“Not only do these programs provide workers with the skills they need to obtain employment to support themselves and their families, but they give a boost to our local small businesses,” says Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong.

The Victoria READ Society in partnership with Bridges for Women will provide face-to-face and on-line essential skills training for up to 200 employees from small and medium-sized business in the retail, wholesale, grocery and tourism/hospitality sectors.

SkillsPlus is a unique program that brings essential skills training to the workplace. The program helps bring literacy, numeracy and other skills into everyday workplace practices and employee training. SkillsPlus projects will draw upon the learning tools and resources successfully developed through earlier pilots and will enable over 600 employees in B.C. communities.

According to the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD), there are strong links between higher literacy levels and a successful economy. Countries with higher skills levels also have more workers in the knowledge sector, a key area for B.C.’s future job growth.

The B.C. government, working with academic, industry and other partners is enabling British Columbians to gain the skills needed to successfully participate in our provincial labour market and respond positively to changing workplace demands.

Under the Canada-B.C. Labour Market Agreement, the Government of Canada is providing the Province approximately $66 million annually until 2013/14. Through a variety of programs, these funds will increase training for employed individuals who are low-skilled and require essential skills or recognized credentials to reach their full potential in the current marketplace. They will also help increase access to training for unemployed individuals who are not currently Employment Insurance clients including, but not limited to, those who are underrepresented in the labour market.

For more information about Ida and the Oak Bay-Gordon Head constituency, visit www.idachongmla.bc.ca

For more information on the LMA, visit www.WorkBC.ca.

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