Canadian and Design Construction Report staff writer
British Columbia’s construction and skilled trades sectors are set for a major boost with recent federal and provincial funding announcements aimed at growing the workforce and supporting energy-efficient projects.
The federal government has committed nearly $10 million to the BC Construction Industry Skills Improvement Council (SkillPlan) to create a national Red Seal training program for heat and frost insulators. The funding will support energy-assessment training, helping workers build skills for energy-efficient construction and low-carbon projects. More than 1,800 unionized workers across Canada are expected to benefit.
Kyle Downie, CEO of SkillPlan, said the program will strengthen apprenticeship programs and equip workers with advanced energy-efficiency skills. “We will work with local unions and Canada’s Building Trades Unions to support Red Seal certification and prepare workers for a low-carbon future,” he said. The project is part of the Union Training and Innovation Program’s Sustainable Jobs stream, which has supported more than 145,000 participants since 2017. Over the next five years, roughly 29,000 Red Seal trades workers are expected to benefit.
At the same time, the B.C. government announced a historic $241-million investment in provincial trades training. The funding aims to give more British Columbians access to high-paying jobs in construction, clean energy, and technology, supporting economic growth and community development across the province.
Together, these initiatives highlight the urgent need to address a growing shortage of skilled trades workers. The construction sector alone is projected to have 410,000 openings by 2033, nearly half due to retirements. Federal and provincial support for training programs is seen as a key step toward building a skilled, energy-efficient workforce for the future.
For more on apprenticeship programs and training opportunities, visit Canada.ca/skilled-trades.
