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For Release
June 2. 2006
Government of Canada strengthens training in oil and gas sector
Fort St. John, British Columbia – Today, the Oil and Gas Industry Training Centre of Excellence at the Northern Lights College in Fort St. John received $800,000 under the Western Economic Partnership Agreement. The Centre will create new employment opportunities and assist in training a highly qualified workforce to strengthen British Columbia’s oil and gas industry.
“The tremendous growth of B.C.’s oil and gas sector is creating new career opportunities in Fort St. John and across the province,” said the Honourable Jay Hill, Member of Parliament for Prince George-Peace River and Chief Government Whip on behalf of the Honourable Carol Skelton, Minister of National Revenue and Minister of Western Economic Diversification. “By strengthening educational capacity, we can meet the growing demands for highly-skilled workers in this industry and capitalize on significant economic opportunities.”
"In partnership with government, more than a dozen companies stepped forward to support the Centre financially and with in-kind support,” said Richard Neufeld, BC Minister of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources. “That’s a pretty big vote of confidence by this resource sector in our province and the Centre of Excellence. To have the federal government partner now shows how everyone supports this facility.”
“This Centre will offer students the opportunity to acquire new skills and receive oil and gas training in an innovative and responsive environment,” said John Birnie, acting president of Northern Lights College. “It will enable the College, with the assistance of secondary and post-secondary educational partners and Aboriginal human resource agencies, to meet industry’s labour needs by providing quality training with the best facilities and equipment available.”
The Oil and Gas industry Training Centre of Excellence will support Northern Lights College’s plans to accommodate an additional 180 students in vocational, trades, career and technical programs related to the oil and gas training. By 2008, B.C. will have 200 new skilled workers and 43 full-time positions in the oil and gas industry.
The Western Economic Partnership Agreement is a $50 million joint federal-provincial program supporting economic development in British Columbia. Western Economic Diversification Canada and the Ministry of Economic Development jointly administer the program.
For additional information, contact:
Fiona MacLeod Linda Yaciw |
Jinny Wu |
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378) |