Harper Government Investment Strengthens Skills Training in British Columbia's Thompson Region

KAMLOOPS, BRITISH COLUMBIA--(Marketwired - July 7, 2015) - Western Economic Diversification Canada

Today, Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and for Western Economic Diversification, and Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Michelle Rempel, Minister of State for Western Economic Diversification, announced a $2,039,000 investment for Thompson Rivers University (TRU) to expand the school's industrial training programs.

With this funding, TRU will establish an instrumentation engineering program to support skills training in oil and gas production and processing facilities. This two-year program will train B.C.'s regional workforce in the operation and maintenance of automated process control and measurement systems used in the production of various commodities.

This highly transferable trade is recognized in the Interprovincial Standards Red Seal Program, which allows qualified tradespeople to practice their trade anywhere in Canada. This new program will also ensure the availability of highly skilled and fully qualified trades workers.

Quick Facts

• An estimated 61,700 jobs will be required to support ongoing operations by 2021 as a result of developments in the liquefied natural gas industry.
• TRU is a comprehensive university that has flexible programming to facilitate student transitions to work or further study through skills- and competency-based training.

Quotes

"Our Government recognizes the importance of skills training and education in securing Canada's continued economic success. By supporting Thompson Rivers University, we are helping to meet the need for skilled workers in a high demand sector so that we can continue to create jobs and stimulate economic growth."

- Cathy McLeod, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Health and for Western Economic Diversification, and Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo

"We appreciate this significant support from Western Economic Diversification Canada. This investment recognizes Thompson Rivers University's ability to mobilize to meet the changing needs of the nation's economy. Our new training and education programs will lead to more instrumentation engineering technologists which are needed in many industrial sectors.

- Alan Shaver, President and Vice-Chancellor, Thompson Rivers University

Additional Links

• Students in British Columbia's Kootenay Region to Benefit from Harper Government's Investment in Training Program

• Service Canada - Apprenticeship Grants

• Thompson Rivers University

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