The Province and the oil and gas industry are providing more than $714,000 for oil and gas training programs that will provide people with the skills to help companies grow, compete and build a stronger economy, Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources Minister Richard Neufeld announced today.

"These training programs will help create the high skill levels to support greater productivity in the oil and gas sector," Neufeld said. "These programs are an important part of our plan to make B.C. one of the most competitive oil and gas jurisdictions in North America and to enable more British Columbians to participate and benefit directly, right in their own communities."

Ten projects were selected for funding according to recommendations in the B.C. Oil and Gas Education and Training Consortium's 2006 report. The programs target a range of skills, such as heavy equipment operation, safety training and land reclamation, and are directed at diverse groups, including entry-level oil and gas employees, high school students, women, aboriginal people and First Nations.

The programs will be funded through the Education and Training Initiative. For three consecutive years, the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources and oil and gas companies each contributed $500,000 annually to the Initiative for a total of $1 million per year. Because some projects came in under budget and some funds were unallocated, approximately $714,200 is being awarded now.

Including the 10 projects announced today, the Education and Training Initiative has funded a total of 39 programs delivered by 11 educational organizations. The 21 companies that partnered with the Ministry of Energy, Mines and Petroleum Resources on this initiative were Action Services Group, Anadarko Canada Corporation, Burlington Resources Canada Ltd., BV Land Consulting Ltd., Canadian Natural Resources Limited, ConocoPhillips Canada, Devon Energy Corporation Canada, Dominion Exploration Canada Ltd., Enbridge Inc., EnCana Corporation, Ensign Energy Services Inc., Fedderly Transportation Ltd., Nexen Inc., North East Native Advancing Society, Penn West Energy Trust, Petro-Canada, Progress Energy Ltd., Spectra Energy Transmission, Surerus Pipeline Inc., Talisman Energy Inc. and Trinidad Drilling Ltd.