The Government of Canada is investing in projects that will address skills shortages, fuel inclusive economic growth and create well-paying jobs
What do aerospace and life sciences have in common? They are both hot spots of innovation and growth in British Columbia. With over 200 companies, British Columbia has one of the largest aerospace clusters in Canada. BC's life sciences sector is the fastest growing in Canada. PacifiCan is committed to helping businesses in these sectors innovate and thrive.
Today, the Honourable Harjit S. Sajjan, Minister of International Development and Minister responsible for the Pacific Economic Development Agency of Canada (PacifiCan), announced $14.5 million in PacifiCan funding for two projects with the British Columbia Institute of Technology (BCIT).
The investment includes over $9.3 million through the Aerospace Regional Recovery Initiative and over $5.2 million through the Regional Innovation Ecosystems Program to help BCIT establish new training programs in the aerospace and life sciences sectors.
The B.C. aerospace industry is facing labour shortages, especially for employees working in maintenance, repair and overhaul. To address the industry's need for skilled workers, BCIT is receiving over $9.3 million in funding to launch a new hands-on training program for gas turbine maintenance, repair and overhaul in the aerospace sector - the first of its kind in North America. This investment is expected to create 160 new jobs and generate an additional $360 million in revenue in British Columbia by 2027.
B.C., and Canada as a whole, are also facing skills shortages in the biomanufacturing sector. However, industry-recognized hands-on training is not offered in Western Canada, which can limit Canada's ability to attract talent and compete globally.
For that reason, BCIT is receiving over $5.2 million in funding to create a National Biomanufacturing Training Centre. The Province of BC is also contributing $2 million. This facility will provide training, professional development and talent for biotech companies in B.C. and across Western Canada. This investment is expected to see more than 700 people trained every year once the centre is operational and produce highly-trained personnel for in-demand jobs.
