British Columbia is a geographically large province, with diverse and important infrastructure needs. From transportation to education, healthcare to housing, public infrastructure allows us to provide the services people need, all while building our economy. Government has a responsibility to invest in provincial infrastructure, apprenticeships and skills training and we know communities from the coast to the north depend on these investments.
However, despite repeated calls from every corner of British Columbia, for sixteen years the former BC Liberal government neglected our province’s infrastructure and skills training needs. From Smithers to Salmon Arm and even in my community of Surrey, roads, bridges, and public transit investments in our communities largely flat lined. The absence of these investments left young families, transit users, and tradespeople out in the cold.
New Democrats know municipalities require proper foundational investments and that we need more apprentices and skilled trades workers to keep building our province. That’s why earlier this summer when our government announced the Pattullo Bridge replacement and four-laning of the Trans-Canada Highway from Kamloops to the Alberta Border, we also introduced the Community Benefit Agreements – a better way to manage B.C.’s public construction.
The Community Benefit Agreements are our solution to fixing sixteen years of mishandling B.C.’s public infrastructure development. Under the previous government’s watch, infrastructure projects went over budget, apprenticeship and training opportunities were overlooked, and B.C. workers weren’t given priority access to the work site. Fortunately all of that is set to change under a new framework which will grant more opportunities for British Columbians on various infrastructure projects.
For the first time women, Indigenous workers, and people with disabilities will more easily have access to the work site, and the better paying jobs and lives associated with these opportunities. We know for far too long these groups have been grossly underrepresented with women making up a mere 5 per cent of apprentices in the trades. I couldn’t be happier to be a part of a government working to turn the page on this issue and be paving this opportunity for future workers. And with our government having committed to investing $10 billion in transportation infrastructure, it’s undeniable that B.C. needs a skilled and diverse workforce moving forward to meet this demand.
As the MLA for Surrey-Panorama, I know the importance of expanding our transit services which is why I could not be more excited that our government is supporting Phase 2 of the Mayors’ Council Transportation Plan, which includes the Broadway Skytrain extension and the long anticipated Surrey-Newton-Guildford Light Rail Transit (LRT) project. We know these projects will bring much-needed transit services to underserviced areas of our communities, ensuring that people who live, work, and play in the area have access to safe and reliable transportation options. All while also bringing good paying, middle-class construction jobs to my community and the surrounding local areas during construction.
New Democrats recognize that over 59,000 jobs in construction are set to open up by 2027. That’s why we’re investing in our next generation of trades workers by creating new training seats across the province. Thirteen post-secondary institutions across the province – including Kwantlen Polytechnic University in my community of Surrey – are set to benefit, ensuring that those committed to building and maintaining our province have the opportunity to do so.
While aging bridges, deteriorating roads, and a skilled labour shortage are just a few of the reminders of the BC Liberal legacy, New Democrats are committed to turning the page on community infrastructure projects.
I believe that the infrastructure projects British Columbians own should do more for them. That’s why we’re not just investing in roads, bridges and other infrastructure projects across the province, we’re investing in good jobs, safer structures, and long-lasting benefits for British Columbians.
By putting local people first in line and increasing opportunities for Indigenous peoples, women and young people, we’re ensuring British Columbians benefit from the good-paying construction jobs of today, and for decades to come. For sixteen years the BC Liberals left people stuck. That’s why, my New Democrat colleagues and I are doing things differently and are working hard to make sure British Columbians can finally get ahead.