NDP MLAs say more people in Surrey are now training for employment
SURREY – New Democrat MLAs Amna Shah and Jessie Sunner say that more people in Surrey are gaining employment skills at Indigenous Community for Leadership & Development Inc., setting them up to find good jobs.
“This investment is helping people in Surrey gain the skills and experience they need to succeed in B.C.’s growing construction industry,” says Amna Shah, MLA for Surrey City Centre. “By supporting Indigenous participants with hands-on training and real-world work experience, we’re building stronger communities and opening doors to long-term, meaningful employment. This kind of partnership is making a difference right here in Surrey.”
Indigenous Community for Leadership & Development Inc. is training two intakes of eight to twelve Indigenous participants to be ready for jobs as construction workers on the Lower Mainland. With over $725,000 in funding, the program includes 15 weeks of training, three weeks of hands-on work experience and two weeks of follow-up support. The first cohort began on September 22, 2025, and the second cohort began on October 14, 2025.
“By investing in training and education, we are helping people access better jobs to build a stronger, future-ready workforce that drives economic growth,” said Jessie Sunner, MLA for Surrey-Newton and Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. “There will be over 1 million job openings in BC over the next 10 years. I encourage eligible organizations to apply so we can support as many people as possible in entering the in-demand sectors our province needs.”
The provincial government, in partnership with the Government of Canada, is funding over $3 million to support seven different training programs across B.C. that are preparing people for in-demand jobs such as construction workers, education assistants, hospitality workers or heavy equipment operators in forestry, civil infrastructure and excavation.
Labour market training projects, funded through the Community and Employer Partnerships program, deliver employment and skills training to help people on their path to rewarding careers while involving local communities, employers and industry representatives. They provide a combination of classroom training, work experience and follow-up support to help participants improve their employment skills and prepare them for in-demand jobs in different parts of B.C.