The Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre (IMTARC) located in Esquimalt, BC, is officially opened.
The Honourable Lynne Yelich, Minister of State for Western Economic persification (WD), joined provincial and local representatives to officially open the Industrial Marine Training and Applied Research Centre (IMTARC).
"We recognize that the shipbuilding and marine industry in British Columbia is set to grow significantly in the coming years and that this coordinated training centre will play an integral part in positioning BC for success," said Minister Yelich. "Our Government’s investment in IMTARC is an important part of Western Canada’s Shipbuilding Action Plan.”
Total economic activity in BC’s shipbuilding industry is expected to grow from $450 million to $1.4 billion, with the number of jobs increasing from 3,000 to 5,000. To capitalize on these opportunities the Harper Government developed Western Canada’s Shipbuilding Action Plan, and provided more than $1 million for the Resource Training Organization to construct the new marine training centre in Esquimalt. IMTARC will ensure the sustainability of BC’s shipbuilding and repair industry by offering entry-level training, working with post-secondary institutions and apprenticeship programs, and helping businesses adopt new technologies and processes.
Partners such as Seaspan, BC Ferries, Babcock Canada, Thales Canada, and Lockheed Martin Canada have also providing funding for IMTARC, while the Province of British Columbia provided a $550,000 investment for training program development.
"A new wave of economic growth, stimulated by the shipbuilding contract, will result in a strong future for BC’s shipbuilding sector,”” said Minister of Aboriginal Relations and Reconciliation and Oak Bay-Gordon Head MLA Ida Chong. ““The new marine centre will provide training programs to help ensure that our province has a skilled workforce to fill the many opportunities coming our way.”