B.C. to launch compulsory skilled trades certification system

June 14, 2021

The British Columbia government is launching a compulsory skilled trades certification system that it says will strengthen economic recovery by addressing labour shortages and supporting higher-paying, more stable jobs.

Premier John Horgan told a news conference Friday he recognizes it will be a big change for workers and employers, and the transformation won’t happen overnight.

B.C. removed the requirement that tradespeople be certified in 2003, making it the only jurisdiction in Canada without a system for compulsory credentials.

That change “devalued” careers in the trades, Horgan said, adding it can be difficult for workers without recognized credentials to move from one job to the next.

Source: Times Colonist