British Columbia Getting Ready for LNG Workforce

'Coming Together at The Same Time'

British Columbia is anticipating a surge in LNG projects – and the requisite jobs – at a time when the province's more established industries are rebounding from the economic recession that began roughly 6 years ago, noted Herman.

"B.C. is a very resource-rich province so there's a lot of activity happening in mining, shipbuilding and the softwood lumber industry," he said. "All of these things are coming together at the same time."

Although ground has not yet been broken on any of the proposed export terminals, the LNG sector will be vying for a pool of skilled workers whose know-low likely will be coveted by various industries, Herman explained.

"It's a little early in terms of the actual competition, but everyone knows this is coming," he said. "Everyone is preparing so that we'll have skills on the ground. We recognize that LNG will be competing with other industries and we need to be sure that we have the correct number of trades there when they're needed."

In tandem with the British Columbia Ministry of Education, ITA is taking a multifaceted approach to stoking elementary- and secondary-level students' interest in career opportunities in the LNG sector. Beginning as early as Grade 5, ITA's school outreach efforts inform students about various career options in the trades, Herman noted. Formal trades training can begin at the secondary level through the province's Accelerated Credit Enrollment to Industry Training (ACE IT) program. Under ACE IT, students take trades training in high school and receive dual credit for their first level of apprenticeship training. Those who complete the ACE IT phase can then obtain on-the-job, paid Secondary School Apprenticeship (SSA) training through public colleges and private training providers

"Students can actually find an apprenticeship in high school and work full-time in apprenticeship credits while getting high school credits," Herman said of SSA. "We're very strong on promoting the trades in the school system."

Export terminal developers are also taking the initiative to entice British Columbians to careers in LNG. In one case, BG Group and Pacific Northwest LNG are supporting the Coastal Pathways Partnership at Northwest Community College in Prince Rupert, B.C. The partnership provides trades training for students in the province's Northern Coastal region, the area in which six of the terminals would be located (Woodfibre would be built in southern British Columbia). Also, BG Group is sponsoring a $5 million, 5-year partnership with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation (CYBF) that will support skills development and start-up funding for young entrepreneurs in the vicinity of its proposed Prince Rupert LNG Project site.

"We foresee industrial growth creating significant opportunities for the western Canada workforce," remarked Chris Finlayson, BG Group chief executive, in a Nov. 6, 2013, CYBF press release announcing the partnership. "Our relationship with the Canadian Youth Business Foundation represents an investment in the future – the young entrepreneurs who receive start-up funding today may well be serving a vibrant LNG sector tomorrow."