British Columbia is making changes to programs funded through its $129 million Community Development Trust. The fun…
British Columbia is making changes to programs funded through its $129 million Community Development Trust. The fund is financed by Ottawa, and is intended to assist forestry workers impacted by the downturn in their industry. According to a recent report by the Prince George Citizen, first-aid and truck driving schools will now be incorporated into the pool of approved courses, in addition to job search services being treated as tuition, and funded as such. The $5,000 limit on education will now also cover the cost of books. Further, on a case-by-case basis, individuals seeking to study outside the province may now be able to do so.
“We’ve had great interest in each of our trust programs since we launched the support earlier this year, and the adjustments we’re making today will ensure the program continues to meet the needs of the people it was initially designed to serve,” the Citizen reported Community Development Minister Blair Lekstrom as saying.
The federal government established a $1 billion fund and distributed it amongst the provinces in order to help one industry towns adjust to economic downturns. The BC government directed its share to fund tuition for forestry workers who lost their jobs, an early retirement program, and a short-term employment program.
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