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CHILLIWACK, B.C. – British Columbia Premier David Eby announced a plan to double the number of apprentices in the skilled trades on Sept. 26.

Eby announced at a new LiUNA and Teamsters training facility in Chilliwack. B.C. that the NDP government would invest $150 million over three years into SkilledTradesBC to double trade apprentice seats from the current 26,000 to over 50,000.

“British Columbians deserve affordable homes, good schools, and modern hospitals – and many are looking for opportunities that will help them get better paying jobs. By training more people for great careers in the skilled trades, we’ll help them get ahead and give them the skills they need to build the things our growing province needs. The same projects John Rustad is planning to cancel,” Eby said.

Apprenticeships that will be covered include training to become a bricklayer, industrial electrician, machinist, plumber and other trades, the release said.

BC Building Trades executive director Brynn Bourke voiced her organization’s support for the proposed initiative.

“If we are going to build the critical infrastructure B.C. requires like hospitals, schools, roads, bridges and transit, we need more highly skilled and certified tradespeople. This new funding will allow trades training providers like our joint boards to develop the next generation of trades workers. Trades training funding is vital to the future of this province,” Bourke said.

According to BuildForce Canada, a BC Building Trades release said, the province will need to recruit and train an additional 52,600 construction workers by 2032 to support workforce demands in the construction industry.