CCNB's Bathurst Campus to Add Centre for Mining and Drilling

Specialized training centre will be the first of its kind in Atlantic Canada

 January 6, 2017 – Bathurst, NB – Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency

 The federal and provincial governments are investing nearly $1.5 million in Collège Communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick’s (CCNB) Bathurst Campus to help it establish Atlantic Canada’s first specialized training centre for the mining and drilling sectors.

 Serge Cormier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans and the Canadian Coast Guard and Member of Parliament for Acadie–Bathurst, on behalf of the Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA), and the Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick, joined CCNB’s Bathurst Campus officials to make the announcement today.

 The project includes purchasing heavy equipment simulators and associated equipment; hiring a manager as well as experts to develop program content; and providing training in simulation and security.   

 The Government of Canada is providing a non-repayable contribution of $185,000 through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund toward the purchase of the simulators. The Government of New Brunswick is investing more than $1.3 million through the Regional Development Corporation and the Department of Post-secondary Education, Training and Labour. CCNB, for its part, is investing $265,000 in the project.

 This project supports the Atlantic Growth Strategy that aims to build the region’s capacity to train, deploy and retain skilled workers and spur value-added opportunities in established industries like fisheries, agriculture, forestry and mining, which are significant contributors to Atlantic Canada’s economy.

Quotes

 
“The Government of Canada is committed to working closely with all levels of government, post-secondary education institutions, businesses and the workforce to grow the middle class and revitalize the Canadian economy. This investment in CCNB’s Bathurst Campus to help train the next generation of workers in the mining and drilling sectors is an excellent example of this commitment.”

-  The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development and Minister responsible for ACOA

“This region has plenty of residents who have developed years of experience working in the mining and drilling industries and who are more than qualified to pass along knowledge to the next generation. That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to support this project, which will enable CCNB to contribute to the industry’s succession planning efforts while helping to diversify the local economy here in Bathurst.”

-  Serge Cormier, Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Fisheries, Oceans, and the Canadian Coast Guard and MP for Acadie – Bathurst

“As your government, we understand how important education and training are to the New Brunswick economy.  This training centre will create jobs and strengthen the New Brunswick workforce, making us a great destination for mining project investments.”

- The Honourable Brian Gallant, Premier of New Brunswick

“We have been working on this for a long time so we are really happy with the official announcement today. The industry’s work force is getting older and we need to prepare a new generation of workers. These modern simulators will help CCNB respond to the demand of this industry by providing skilled workers. CCNB wants to become a leader in mining education not only in the province of New Brunswick, but in Eastern Canada.”

- Liane Roy, President and CEO, CCNB

 

Quick Facts

• The specialized training centre will focus on four areas, including a 14 to 20 week mining program, a four to six week equipment operator program, as well as workplace health and safety and environmental safety training.
• CCNB Bathurst is acting on recommendations and conclusions drawn from two studies published by the Mining Industry Human Resources Council that highlight the need for succession planning in the industry to meet current and future needs for trained, skilled workers in the field.  
• In the next nine years, the industry across Canada is expected to have to hire between 84,000 and 126,000 employees to fill vacant positions that will be left as a result of retirements.

 Associated Links

 

• Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
• Atlantic Growth Strategy
• CCNB – Bathurst Campus (French only)
• http://www2.gnb.ca/content/gnb/en.html
• https://www.mihr.ca/

 Contacts

Lisa Gautreau
Acting Senior Communications Officer
Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency
506-471-1565

Bruce MacFarlane
Communications
Province of New Brunswick
506-444-4377

Bruno Richard
Communication Officer
CCNB
506-543-0661