VICTORIA - To ensure British Columbians are first in line for the skilled jobs of the future, Minister of Jobs, Tourism and Skills Training and Minister Responsible for Labour Shirley Bond announced that Jessica McDonald is appointed as Independent Review Lead (IRL) for the review of the Industry Training Authority (ITA).

This appointment is one commitment set out in the ITA review terms of reference announced on Aug. 21, 2013. As the IRL, McDonald will examine the role and function of the ITA to ensure it is meeting its mandate and reaching key targets and outcomes.

Starting next week, McDonald will meet with the ITA board and senior staff, as well as a range of government, post-secondary, industry and labour stakeholders. She will seek advice and input on the ITA and B.C.'s trades-training system generally and examine best practices in other jurisdictions.

In conducting the review, Bond has directed the IRL to:

* Encourage frank and open discussion among all trades training and industry stakeholders in B.C.

* Ensure, to the greatest extent possible, that the partners, industry stakeholders, employers and apprentices consulted as part of the review represent all regions of the province.

* Make recommendations that will strengthen the current system without creating undue disruption to the ongoing recruitment, training and credentialing of the skilled workers that B.C.'s economy needs.

In determining the best candidate for the IRL role, Bond sought an individual with experience as a senior leader in a corporate, ministry or Crown agency environment; experience conducting organizational mandate reviews; an excellent understanding of Crown governance systems, and a proven track record in conducting projects of a similar scope. McDonald's services are part of a two-year umbrella contract that was competitively tendered and awarded through an open Request for Proposals process in late 2012.

The ITA review will begin effective immediately, and the final report will be released publicly. Individuals who would like to provide input can do so directly through an email address set up by the ministry.

Feedback may be submitted in writing to: ITA.Review@gov.bc.ca Written submissions must be received by the ministry by no later than 4:30 p.m. on Friday, Oct. 18, 2013, in order to be considered under the review.

Quick Facts:

* Over the next decade, there will be more than one million job openings in British Columbia, 43 per cent of which are expected to be trades or technical occupations.
* The ITA oversees, manages and works to continually improve B.C.'s industry-led trades-training system. It works closely with sector bodies called industry training organizations, and public and private training institutions to ensure that the training system is responsive to employer needs in each workplace and in the labour market as a whole. With these partners, and employers in industry and labour, the ITA issues trades credentials, manages apprenticeships, sets program standards and increases opportunities in the trades in B.C.
* There are currently about 35,000 registered apprentices in the industry-training system (including youth) - an increase of 1,000 over last February, and more than double the number of apprentices registered when ITA was created in 2004.
* Seat capacity in ITA-funded apprenticeship programs has increased by 19 per cent over the last six years, from 18,098 spaces in 2005-06 to over 21,000 spaces in 2012-13.
* In 2012-13, ITA awarded 8,042 certificates of qualifications to journeypersons in B.C., almost triple the number issued in 2005.

News from © iNFOnews, 2013