WATCH ABOVE: The Industry Training Authority will introduce a new trades classification in response to the expected boom in the LNG industry. Brian Coxford reports.
VANCOUVER – It could be the most important job on an LNG site once that commitment is made to build a plant.
They are called construction craft workers and on Thursday the crown corporation that certifies skilled tradesmen geared up to train more that ten thousand of them.
Its not a new job as craft laborers, who are essential for the development of the LNG industry, are trained throughout Canada, but not in B.C.
They are the tradesmen who have a working knowledge of most of the major trades and are assistants to electricians, plumbers and boilermakers. They can also make six-figure salaries.
The Industry Training Association hopes they can have the first classes ready to go by December. They are two year training positions and the theory is by the time the first group is ready to go to work, the big energy companies will have commitments in place to move forward with their LNG plants.
“B.C. is going to be implementing the construction craft worker trade, which is a Red Seal Trade in eight other provinces in Canada and we will be implementing that trade,” said Gary Herman, Industry Training Authority CEO. “It’s a two-year trade. These are the folks that are on the job site, construction of buildings, construction of plants, roads, bridges and the numbers.”
He added that this can be a great entry pathway into the trade industry.
The students will be trained at post secondary institutions like BCIT and private trade schools.
– With files from Brian Coxford
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