UPDATE: B.C. LNG agreement with federal government
Yesterday in Ottawa, B.C. Premier Christy Clark signed an agreement with the federal government on LNG skills training and immigration. The Premier and her delegation of energy and environmental ministers travelled to Canada’s capital to highlight the role that LNG production and exports could play in boosting both the B.C. economy and that of the country as a whole.
“Today we have signed an accord between the provincial and federal government which commits us to working together on skills training and immigration, making sure we have the workforce that we need to build this economy of the future, said Clark. As a result of the agreement, labour costs and skilled shortages would be reduced, she added.
Clark stressed that a skilled workforce was key to realising B.C.’s LNG potential, and a relaxation of immigration laws should be exercised. Both the Premier and the minister for Employment and Social Development, Jason Kenney, said that B.C.’s LNG industry could create 100 000 new jobs. “It’s 100 000 new jobs and you can’t build it without people”, Clark said. “You cannot build an economy without people who are trained and ready to take these jobs.”
Clark signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will implement the Canada Job Grant, a scheme that gives employees access to training, and could provide up to C$ 15 000 in funding per person. This could help to fill the anticipated skills gap in the industry.
“Nation builder”
The MoU stated that energy resources in Canada represent “a significant economic catalyst in rural and remote regions that is becoming increasingly important to British Columbia’s economy and strategically important to Canada’s economic future”. Clark referred specifically to the ability of the LNG industry in B.C. to be a “nation-builder”.
The government of Canada has approved four long-term LNG export licences for Pacific NorthWest LNG, Prince Rupert LNG, WCC LNG and Woodfibre LNG.
Edited from various sources by Ted Monroe
Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/01042014/bc_premier_christy_clark_signs_agreement_with-ottawa_on_lng_skills_training_and_immigration/
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