QUESNEL – Forty-three job seekers, including former employees who were affected by sawmill closures in Quesnel and surrounding areas, are receiving training for jobs in their communities, thanks to support from the federal and provincial governments.
The governments have allocated $307,000 in total to the College of New Caledonia (CNC) to deliver three training programs at no cost to eligible participants:
- $90,000 to deliver the Horticulture Technician and Agribusiness training to 15 participants;
- $77,000 to deliver the Tourism Services program to 12 participants; and
- $140,000 to deliver the Construction Industry Training to 16 participants from both Quesnel and Prince George.
All of the programs are currently underway. The Horticulture Technician and Agribusiness, as well as the Tourism Services programs at CNC, are funded through the Employment Services and Supports (ESS)-Rapid Response Fund. The ESS-Rapid Response Fund, worth more than $2 million in total, supports training programs in BC communities that are facing local economic changes.
The Construction Industry Training is funded through the Province’s new Employment Innovation Fund (EIF) under the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Employment Services and Supports program.
The Province received an additional $6.5 million through the Canada-B.C. Job Fund Agreement in 2016/17, and has allocated this funding for EIF projects. These projects will provide employment services and supports for up to 748 participants throughout B.C. between fall 2016 and spring 2017.
These training investments support the recently announced Building on our Rural Advantages: B.C.’s Rural Economic Development Strategy. The strategy outlines the Province’s long-term vision to ensure that British Columbians in all regions of the province have the opportunity for well-paying jobs and a high quality of life in their community.
