B.C. investing $241 million over three years to train high paying trades workers

DELTA — The British Columbia government says it’s investing $241 million over three years to train people for “high-paying” skilled trades jobs.

B.C. Premier David Eby says the funding will create 5,000 new trades training seats this year, helping reduce wait-lists for in-demand trades programs.

Eby says the demand for skilled trades workers is growing in B.C., with $88 billion in major projects coming to the province in the next 12 months, creating 100,000 job openings in skilled trades.

A statement from Eby’s office says the $241 million investment will expand skilled trades certification, starting with tower and mobile crane operators, and create thousands of new trades training seats in public secondary institutions and non-profit union training schools.