Report Shows Campbell Government Out of Touch with Needs of Apprenticeship Students
VICTORIA – A new report from Statistics Canada is more evidence that the government is out of touch with the needs of apprenticeship students, the New Democrats said today.Campbell
Doug Routley“This new report underscores the need for Gordon Campbell to fix the mess he created in the apprenticeship and training system. Clearly, apprenticeship programs in B.C. still haven’t recovered from when they were gutted by the government in 2002,” said Doug Routley, New Democrat critic for apprenticeship and training.
The report released Friday shows 43 per cent of apprentices in B.C. hit financial barriers during their training, as compared to 12.6 per cent of apprentices in Quebec.
Routley, MLA for Cowichan – Ladysmith, noted that although there wasn’t a decline in apprenticeship completion rates, this could be due to factors such as the downgrading of the welding C ticket in 2007.
Rob Fleming“Whether they go to college, university, or an apprenticeship program, more and more young British Columbians are attending higher education. They deserve the best we can offer, but that’s not what they’re getting under the government,” said Rob Fleming, New Democrat advanced education critic.
“Students are saddled with increasingly large debt loads and sky-high interest rates, and at a time when we should be fighting to make higher education accessible to everyone, the B.C. Liberals have done just the opposite,” said Fleming, MLA for Victoria – Hillside.
Carole James and the New Democrats have a five point plan to reduce student debt, including bringing back need-based student grants and cutting student loan interest rates in half.
