Frequently Asked Questions
The Trades Training Fund is an opportunity exclusive to residents of Northwest BC. If the applicant has an employment attachment, the employer must have a business operating in Northwest BC.
WHAT IS THE LNG CANADA TRADES TRAINING FUND (TTF)?
Through the TTF, LNG Canada has already invested more than $2M to support apprenticeship training as part of its Construction Workforce Program. The fund is administrated through the BC Construction Association. It is designed to support Industry and Apprenticeship Training for the construction and related trades in BC.
WHY WAS THIS FUND ESTABLISHED?
LNG Canada recognized that if British Columbians were going to be ready to take part in the skilled trades opportunities opening up as a result of the growing LNG industry, they needed to start their training as soon as possible. LNG Canada also recognized that the employers who sponsor apprentices today will play a big role in training those skilled journeypersons that the LNG sector will need in the future. The Trades Training Fund was originally established to:
- Support BC employers, particularly small to medium enterprises, that employ, sponsor, and train apprentices in construction and related trades.
- Support and increase BC apprenticeship training and completions.
- Support workforce development and increase the number of skilled British Columbian journeypersons available to work in the trades.
WHO CAN ACCESS THE FUND?
The Trades Training Fund can be accessed by employers on behalf of their apprentices or directly by the applicant. Employers can make funding requests to help cover costs of foundation or apprenticeship training for employees in high demand trades:
Apprenticeship training: The Fund will cover the cost of technical training through ITA approved training providers, at any level of the apprenticeship for the trades listed below. The apprentice must be registered with the Industry Training Authority.
Foundation training: The Fund may be accessed to pay for approved Foundation training (see list of approved training below) where:
- A commitment has been made to hire the trainee upon graduation.
- The training is being undertaken by a third party training provider independent of the employer and that meets the approval of the Provincial Government.
- The trainee is a Canadian citizen, permanent resident, or protected person entitled to work in Canada.
Applicants with no employer attachment will now be able to apply. Please follow the instructions in the application.
DOES THE FUNDING COVER ALL TRADES?
The original funding covered all apprenticeships in construction or construction-related trades. As demand shifts in the marketplace, the TTF has focused on high-demand trades.
Effective April 1, 2024, employees residing in Northwest BC who are pursuing the following high-demand trades for an employer with business operation in Northwest BC are eligible:
Available to applicants:
- Electrician
- Instrument Technician
- Pipefitter
- Millwright
- Power Engineering
- Water treatment
- Marine Master
- Scaffolder
- Rope access
- Heavy equipment operator
- Labourer
- Welder
- Machinist
- HVAC Technician
- Painter
- Insulation Technician
- Warehouse Technician
- Carpentry
- Plumber
- Gas fitter
- Roofer
- Glazer
- Instrumentation (ops)
- Industrial Electrician (ops)
- Millwright (ops)
- Power Engineer 4th class (ops)
Community capacity trades:
- Driver
- Early Childhood Educator credentials
- Document Controller
- Administrative Assistant
- Food Caterer
- Driver trainer teacher course
- Estheticians
- Hairdressers
- Community support workers
- Professional driver training
- Cook
The list of demand trades may change over time as the workforce evolves at the discretion of LNG Canada.
CAN THE FUND BE ACCESSED FOR LIVING OUT EXPENSES, BOOKS, OR WAGES LOST WHILE AT SCHOOL?
The funding will not cover wages lost but it may include mandatory student fees, textbooks, software, living away travel support and other required materials, and examination fees. The funding per application is capped at $2,500.
CAN INDIVIDUALS APPLY FOR THE FUNDING?
Yes, applicants with no employer attachment are now able to apply.
HOW DOES AN EMPLOYER APPLY FOR THE FUNDING?
Applications and further information can be found here.
WHO WILL RECEIVE THE FUNDING PAYMENT?
The funding will be paid directly to the school providing the training, not to the employer or to the employee receiving the training.
HOW WILL APPLICATIONS FOR FUNDING BE ASSESSED?
Applications for funding will be assessed based on criteria developed by the funders and will be processed in the order in which they are received. Only companies with 150 employees or less are eligible.
WHAT IS THE TIMEFRAME FOR APPLYING? IS THERE A DEADLINE?
Effective April 1st, 2024, applications must be received one month prior to the class start date. Applications will be accepted until the funding has been fully committed.
HOW WERE THE CRITERIA ESTABLISHED?
The LNG Canada TTF criteria were established to achieve the most significant positive impact on BC’s construction workforce: the goal is to assist small and medium employers to upskill and train apprentices and other workers who, without the LNG Canada Trades Training Fund, would likely not be able to receive the training they need.
As of April 1, 2024 this fund is only available to residents of Northwest BC. In 2024, LNG Canada extended the eligible trades to recognize the importance of building community capacity in the Northwest beyond traditional construction roles.
IS THE FUND OPEN TO ALL EMPLOYERS REGARDLESS OF THEIR LABOUR AFFILIATIONS?
Yes, the Fund is open to all employers who sponsor and train apprentices in the construction and related trades in BC.
The BC Construction Association is proud to provide administrative support to LNG Canada for the Trades Training Fund and BC Connect Program.
