Federal investment bolstering skilled workforce in B.C.

The Canadian government is helping build a skilled workforce in British Columbia.

The government announced an investment of $3 million through the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan) for four projects to support workers at small and medium-sized businesses improve their technical skills.

Through the investment, the Composites Knowledge Network at the University of British Columbia (UBC) will receive $1.7 million to support small and medium-sized businesses become leaders in composites manufacturing.

Small Business B.C. will get $695,000 to support two initiatives. Of that investment, $200,000 will be used to enhance the B.C. Marketplace online platform, and the remaining $495,000 will be used to overhaul its information technology systems.

The remaining $600,000 will go to Palette Skills to help train traditional sector workers for in-demand digital technology sales.

The investment is expected to support over 1,000 small and medium-sized businesses in B.C. It’s also expected to result in training more than 600 new professionals and leading to the creation of 80 new jobs.

“Small businesses are the backbone of British Columbia’s economy, employing two in every five workers,” Harjit Sajjan, Minister of Emergency Preparedness and Minister responsible for PacifiCan, said.

“Today’s investment reflects the Government of Canada’s commitment to helping British Columbian businesses grow locally and compete globally. To achieve this goal, PacifiCan is collaborating with partners like the University of British Columbia and Small Business BC, who share our ambition for our province.”

In 2021, small businesses in B.C. employed over 1.1 million people, or 43 per cent of all workers.

The half-a-million small businesses in B.C. accounted for 33 per cent of the province’s Gross Domestic Province and shipped almost $18.1 billion worth of goods abroad in 2021.