ECABC Supports Funding Commitment For Construction Trades

Electrical Contractors Association of British Columbia President Matt MacInnis issued the following statement on the BC Government’s commitment to substantially increase funding to train skilled tradespeople: 

“Today’s funding commitment is an essential step forward to ensure BC has the skilled construction workers it needs to meet our economic and public infrastructure needs. The need for electrical and line utility contractors and the electricians, powerline technicians and construction professionals they employ has never been higher. Demand will continue to grow as BC builds hospitals, schools, homes, transit and power infrastructure, while working to attract significant investment in industrial projects like mines and LNG facilities – all of which require the expertise of ECABC’s members. BC has ambitious plans to grow our economy and public services, and you need builders in order to build. 

“Details on how this funding will be allocated will be determined in the upcoming months, and ECABC looks forward to working with SkilledTrades BC and the provincial government. ECABC’s members are experiencing a shortage of skilled tradespeople, and BC has seen the number of BC-trained electrical apprentices achieving Red Seal certification decline in each of the last four years. Targeted funding for the electrical trades starting in 2026 is critical to support the trades which power BC’s economy.  

“Increasing the number of seats in trades training institutions is important, but the best measure of a successful education program isn’t the number of students enrolled, it’s how many British Columbians are completing the program with the skills they need to have a great career. ECABC will continue to advocate for additional supports for apprentices who are already in the system to improve completion rates and increase the skills of apprentices and new journeypersons to enhance productivity on job sites.   

“ECABC supports the skilled trades certification regime for electricians, and is optimistic that this funding will further strengthen the program to achieve the goals we all share for a strong trades training system.”

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Media Contact 

Matt MacInnis 

mmacinnis@eca.bc.ca 

778-628-1703