Clark accepts LNG roadmap recommendations

British Columbia’s Premier, Christy Clark, has accepted all recommendations in The Premier’s Liquefied Natural gas Working Group: Final Report as a roadmap to ensure B.C. has a sufficient labour force to take advantage of the province’s LNG opportunity.

Planning, training and marketing

The report maps out 15 recommendations on planning, skills training, marketing and developing best practices within the LNG sector to attract a mobile workforce. The report was produced by representatives of government, LNG proponents, organised labour, and the Haisla Nation.

“To bring home the opportunity presented by LNG, we have to work together — government, industry, First Nations and labour. Everyone here today is working toward the same goal - making sure British Columbians benefit from this generational opportunity,” commented Clark.

LNG challenges

The Premier established the working group after her first meeting with representatives of organised labour in September 2013. It was agreed at that meeting that all parties would to work together to map out how they could work together to solve some of the complex challenges associated with the LNG opportunity.

“I want to thank the Premier for setting up the working group. I also want to thank the representatives of the Haisla Nation, industry, labour and government as it has been quite a process to come to agreement on the recommendations,” said Jim Sinclair, president of the BC Federation of Labour. “We were able to get beyond our differences by keeping our focus on what B.C. workers need to take advantage of the potential that lies in LNG. Now we have to ensure that the 15 recommendations are implemented. This investment in the workers of British Columbia will lead to good jobs. As we know, good jobs build a better B.C.”

LNG recommendations

The report includes the following recommendations:

• One on developing a working group moving forward
• Four on skills training planning and implementation
• Two on marketing and promotions
• Three on apprenticeship trades and mentoring
• Two on a mobile workforce
• One on timeline
• Two on the use of workers from other jurisdictions

The recommendations will be reflected in the 10-year skills training plan that will be released soon.

Workforce development

“Premier Clark recognised early the need for LNG workforce development in collaboration with industry, labour, and government. Skills training is critical to ensure citizens of the province might realise the full economic benefits of LNG,” concluded David Keane, vice president, policy and corporate affairs for BG Canada’s Prince Rupert LNG project.

A list of the 15 recommendations can be accessed here.

Adapted from press release by Katie Woodward

Read the article online at: https://www.lngindustry.com/liquid-natural-gas/04042014/lng_roadmap_recommendations_389/