New Construction Craft Worker Program to Help Aboriginal People Enter Skilled Trades

VANCOUVER, BC--(Marketwired - April 24, 2015) - The Industry Training Authority (ITA) announced today that a Red Seal Construction Craft Worker (CCW) Program for Aboriginal People is in development. ITA has appointed Gary McDermott, Director of Aboriginal Initiatives, to lead the Steering Committee. The members will validate the concept and approach for program development, as well as engage key stakeholders to ensure a successful program for Aboriginal People to enter the Construction Craft Worker trade. The pilot Aboriginal CCW Program is scheduled to begin in Fall 2015. 

Given the unprecedented scale of demand for workers, it will be an absolute requirement to draw on the talent and capabilities of people who are currently under-represented in the construction industry in BC. The recent steps ITA has taken directly aligns with B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint to increase the number of Aboriginal People in the skilled trades by 15,000 over the next 10 years, as well as ITA's confirmed action in An Action Plan for LNG Trades Training to develop a specialized Construction Craft Worker Program targeted at Aboriginal individuals that integrates essential skills and cross-cultural components.

Training of more Construction Craft Workers will be integral to filling the growing demand for labour in the Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) sector. In a scenario with the construction of five LNG plants between 2015 and 2024, it is expected that 58,700 direct and indirect construction jobs and 23,800 permanent, direct and indirect operations jobs will be created. It is projected that Construction Craft Workers will be the largest single area of occupational demand for the construction phase of LNG development in the province.

"The development of the LNG industry offers a rare opportunity to British Columbia. An opportunity that will provide a positive and lasting legacy of jobs and economic benefits throughout the province for decades to come. The Construction Craft Worker Program will be vital in training First Nations so they have access to realize the benefits related to the LNG opportunity," said David Keane, BC LNG Alliance President. "Our industry is taking an active role with labour, First Nations, post-secondary institutions, and the provincial government to ensure that British Columbians are first in line for the LNG related jobs."

"The Construction Craft Worker is a high-demand occupation for LNG facilities and other large construction projects," said John Nitties, Vice President, Corporate Affairs and Finance, Laing O'Rourke. "With our extensive experience building LNG projects in Australia, we have first-hand knowledge of the importance to the LNG industry of working closely with indigenous communities, including the social and economic value that is derived from forging strong relationships. ITA's work to help increase access for Aboriginal participation in the trades is the right approach at the right time to ensure Aboriginal Canadians play a key role in project construction."

"Leading up to the one year anniversary of B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint next week, we continue to make progress towards our goal of ensuring Aboriginal people have the education, training and support they need to find their fit in our diverse, strong and growing economy," said Shirley Bond, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister responsible for Labour. "The Aboriginal Construction Craft Worker Program will help to increase Aboriginal participation in skills training programs, which will be critical to the success of our economy in a rapidly-changing labour market."

"The formation of the Aboriginal Construction Craft Worker (CCW) Program Steering Committee is a positive step towards training one of BC's under-represented groups to help fill jobs in the booming LNG sector," says Gary Herman, CEO, ITA. "The creation of this program, as part of our LNG Action Plan, will help develop a skilled workforce ready to take advantage of the significant upcoming economic growth opportunities."

"As project manager of the new steering committee, I am excited to help build a program that will provide specialized opportunities in an important sector for the Aboriginal communities in BC," says Gary McDermott, Director, Aboriginal Initiatives, ITA. "I look forward to working with key stakeholders to ensure this program is successful by both meeting industry needs and preparing Aboriginal People with the skills they will need to seize the careers that will be opening up in the LNG sector."

The members of the Aboriginal Construction Craft Worker Program Steering Committee are:

1. Jeffrey Anders | Tri-Funds Field Coordinator, Special International Representative | LIUNA Northwest Region
2. Jeff Beale | Senior Aboriginal Relations Advisor | Encana Services Company Ltd.
3. Dave Earle | Director, Human Resource Services & Government Relations | Construction Labour Relations Association of  BC
4. Bruce Falstead | Manager, Aboriginal Initiatives | FortisBC
5. Tessa Gill | Head of Corporate and Stakeholder Relations | Pacific NorthWest LNG (Petronas)
6. David Hansen | Regional Employment Placement Specialist | Skilled Trades Employment Program (STEP)
7. Dean Homewood | Aboriginal Liaison (Contractor Relations Representative) | Construction & Specialized Workers' Union Local 1611
8. Kerry Jothen | Workforce Advisor-Kitimat LNG, Chevron Canada | CEO, Human Capital Strategies
9. Gary McDermott | Director of Aboriginal Initiatives | Industry Training Authority
10. Curtis Mercer | Community Navigator | New  Relationship Trust
11. Jeff Nugent | Chief Operating Officer | Industry Training Authority
12. Bev Shuttleworth | Manager, Industry Training  Program | Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training LMIST-Skills  Training Branch
13. Dave Stranger | Instructor-Intro to Trades | Northwest Community College
14. Cordelia Williams | Policy Analyst | Ministry of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training LMIST-Skills Training Branch

About the Construction Craft Worker Trade
The Construction Craft Worker (CCW) is BC's 48th Red Seal trade. A Construction Craft Worker installs utility piping, places concrete, constructs roads, performs selective demolition, performs underground work, assists skilled tradespersons such as Carpenters, Bricklayers and Cement Finishers in construction activities, helps Heavy Equipment Operators secure special attachments to equipment, guides operators in moving equipment and performs laboring activities at construction sites. They are employed by a wide variety of general contractors, municipalities, and oil and gas companies.

About the Industry Training Authority
The Industry Training Authority (ITA) leads and coordinates British Columbia's skilled trades system. ITA works with employers, employees, industry, labour, training providers and government to issue credentials, manage apprenticeships, set program standards and increase opportunities in the trades. ITA is also a key collaborator in the B.C.'s Skills for Jobs Blueprint, which sets out a plan for re-engineering our education and training system to support our growing and changing economy and to help British Columbians take full advantage of the opportunities presented by these changes.

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