Hydro Funds Career Councillor For Students In NE BC
Prince George, BC – BC Hydro will provide close to $200-thousand dollars for a high school career counsellor in northeastern BC.
In making the announcement at the 2013 Fort St. John Energy Conference last week, Minister of Energy and Mines, Bill Bennett, said the funding will benefit students in three school districts – Peace River North (SD60), Peace River South (SD59), Fort Nelson (SD81) – and the First Nations Chalo School over a two year period.
Bennett said the counsellor’s goal will be to encourage students to stay in school by facilitating a transition into trades and career training. He said Hydro is providing the funding so large-scale projects like the proposed Site C dam can employ skilled workers from the Northeast.
"The opportunities in the north are substantial, particularly with projects on the horizon like Site C, liquefied natural gas plants, and new mines," said Bennett.
"BC Hydro understands the need for a skilled workforce in the northeast and we believe that funding a career counsellor position will benefit both students and industry," says Hydro’s Site C Executive Vice President, Susan Yurkovich. "Site C will require a large number of skilled workers, and trades and skills training is needed to prepare students for these job opportunities."
Should that project get the go ahead, it’s estimated there will be 10-thousand direct jobs during construction, and 33-thousand total jobs through all stages of development.
Comments
Not a bad plan, more industry should be doing the same for students to have a real look at the potential for excellent jobs and bright futures without $40,000 in loans. For some students its an great opportunity.
The key line in the story above is **Should that project get the go ahead**
Your alternative is?
Alternative is Electric Generating Plants run by natural gas. One third of the cost of Site C, and creates a market for our gas. Plants can be located in areas where the electricity is needed. Ie; Greater Vancouver area, and Kitimat, and Prince Rupert, if the exporting of natural gas goes ahead.
We could set up long term contracts with natural gas companies to supply the gas.
This is actually a **no brainer** however Hydro, and some of their buddies are locked onto Site C, and it will take awhile to shake them lose.
A major change of management at Hydro, and Powerex would be a good start.
Sorry gas plants not cheaper. Gas price variable into the future. Hydro power operating costs dirt cheap once built. Already a gas fired boiler generating plant in ioco and peaple want it shut down, imagine trying to build a new one down there.
A gastubine plant does not have much rotating mass which is required for power system stability generating as much as site c with gas couldbe an issue.
New generation nuclear is the way to go.
What are the current counsellors doing? A back pocket career counsellor might make sound business however, it doesn’t ensure quality career guidance to minors – not that there currently is quality controlled oversight of current high school guidance counsellors.
Major contracts are already in the works for natural gas so it is the logical choice over Site C which is miles away from approval. Perhaps agriculture should be more of a focused job choice.
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