Prince George-Valemount MLA Shirley Bond is pleased that the B.C. NDP government has adopted what appears to be a plank in the 2017 B.C. Liberal platform.
The B.C. government announced $4.4 million in start-up funding for tech-related programs at several B.C. colleges and universities on Tuesday, including $650,000 for both UNBC and the College of New Caledonia to establish new engineering programs. A government release stated that the move would result in 1,000 new graduates by 2023, including 95 in Prince George. UNBC will see the creation of 70 new engineering seats each year, while CNC will gain 25 additional seats.
The 2017 B.C. Liberal platform stated their government would create 1,000 new graduates in science, technology, engineering and math. Prior to the election, local B.C. Liberal MLA's Bond and Mike Morris held a campaign event in which they announced that under a B.C. Liberal government, UNBC would see the creation of a new civil engineering program with 70 additional student seats, while CNC would see 25 seats created in an engineering program that would "ladder" to UNBC.
"I am very pleased to see the investment in northern British Columbia," Bond said on Wednesday.
"Make no mistake about it: our government made a commitment to see these programs move forward and we announced it and had the funding in our budget to pay for it. It looks very much like it is largely a continuation of the B.C. tech strategy that we put in place."
The 2017 B.C. NDP platform also included a commitment of $100 million to "expand technology-related post-secondary programs." Tuesday's announcement committed to $42 million of funding for the new tech-related programs over the coming years, although it did not indicate over what time period.
A statement issued Wednesday by Melanie Mark, minister for Advance Education, Skills and Training stated that the funding for tech-related programs came after Mark met with students, employers, industry and post-secondary administration across B.C.
"This is not a one-time commitment and there will be more to come in the months ahead. This funding contributes to our commitment to make life better for people by improving access to services, making life more affordable and building a strong, sustainable and innovative economy that works for everyone," Mark said in the statement.
