BC Building Trades Press Release | Friday, November 14, 2025
VICTORIA – BC Building Trades celebrates transformational investment into trades training system
For the first time in over twenty years, the BC Government is making a historic $241 million-dollar investment into the trades training system.
“As the backbone of trades training in BC, the BC Building Trades stands ready to work with the province to build the best apprenticeship system in the country,” said Al Philips, President of the BC Building Trades and Business Manager and Financial Secretary for UA170. “This investment marks a historic day in funding the future of skilled trades workers.”
In 2003, the BC Liberal government cut trades training funding by 20% and introduced a new model for trades training – one that was distinguished by the deregulation of skilled trades. Apprenticeship completion rates fell, workers stopped receiving technical training and many apprentices fell through the cracks, never completing their Red Seal.
BC Building Trades unions stepped up to fill the gap, setting aside $0.35 to $1.50 from every construction hour worked towards training, making up the majority of per-student seat funding for our schools. Today, BC Building Trades unions invest over $30 million and sponsor over 5,000 apprentices across our system.
With today’s announcement, the BC Building Trades has a partner to support this work for the first time in over two decades. $241 million dollars into trades training will support the development of the most skilled construction workforce in Canada and close the growing gap between industry needs and labour availability.
“To build the critical infrastructure British Columbians rely on, we need more highly skilled and certified tradespeople. This new funding will allow our joint board and union training schools to develop the next generation of trades workers,” said Brynn Bourke, Executive Director of the BC Building Trades. “BC Building Trades have been subsidizing the apprenticeship system in order to support apprentices and serve the needs of the industry. We welcome this transformational investment in our trades training system and welcome the government as a partner in delivering the most skilled construction workforce in Canada.”