I often think about students today, and the world they香蕉视频直播檙e graduating into. It香蕉视频直播檚 going to look a lot different than the world I graduated into.
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Nearly eight out of 10 of those one million jobs will need some kind of post-secondary education or training. That香蕉视频直播檚 800,000 jobs we want British Columbia kids to be first in line for 香蕉视频直播� which means they香蕉视频直播檒l need training.
To make sure they香蕉视频直播檙e ready, we香蕉视频直播檙e investing in new training facilities at post-secondary institutions across B.C., starting with the $35-million Okanagan Trades Renewal project, which opened mid-September.
The project involved building a new 6,237 square metre expansion to the existing trades complex, along with a comprehensive renovation of the 4,385 square metre existing facility, which opened in the 1960s. And in addition to updated facilities for a number of foundation certificate programs, diploma programs and apprenticeship programs, the renovations also included retrofitting the mechanical and energy systems to reduce their energy footprint, and allow the facility to become energy neutral.
It香蕉视频直播檚 a modern learning space in every sense of the word.
This was a good investment, because over the last 10 years, demand for trades training programs at Okanagan College香蕉视频直播檚 Kelowna campus has more than doubled.
The renovated and expanded facility means 2,400 more graduates every year, ready for good-paying, in-demand careers as electricians, automotive technicians, welders, plumbers, and more.
Okanagan College isn香蕉视频直播檛 alone. The provincial government is investing $185 million through our Skills for Jobs Blueprint for capital projects and equipment to support trades and skills training throughout B.C. We香蕉视频直播檙e able to make this kind of investment without going into deficit, because of our strong, growing economy. In economic growth, job creation, employment 香蕉视频直播� and the country香蕉视频直播檚 largest budget surplus 香蕉视频直播� right now, we香蕉视频直播檙e leading Canada.
We香蕉视频直播檙e in this position because we香蕉视频直播檝e controlled government spending, and stuck to our plan to grow the economy and the middle class 香蕉视频直播� not penalize growth with new taxes.
What that means is we香蕉视频直播檙e able to invest in people, and make sure we put British Columbians first.
Okanagan College香蕉视频直播檚 new and expanded trades complex will launch thousands of bright futures.
Now that香蕉视频直播檚 an investment that will pay dividends for generations.
