If elected the party would include ag in its skilled trades training supports
Farms.com is continuing its coverage of election promises for farmers leading up to the Oct. 24 provincial election in B.C.
This article focuses on CentreBC.
If elected to form the next government, Elenore Sturko’s party has plans to support B.C.’s ag sector.
“We will set 10-year targets for farm production, income, investment, processing and exports and report on them every year,” the party platform says. “We will update outdated farm-classification rules to farmland is farmed, and help young and new farmers get onto the land.”
Ag supports could also include loan guarantees to help with equipment purchases and succession, and a permanent recovery program after wildfires, drought, floods, and disease.
A CentreBC government would also include ag in skilled trades training.
If elected, the government promises to boost skilled trades training investments by $60 million per year to create 3,500 additional training spots by 2028.
This would include “a stream for agriculture and farm management, so British Columbians are ready for the jobs that major projects will bring.”
The province’s ag sector would be folded into AI skills partnerships too.
The party promises to set up seven partnerships by 2028 to retrain workers for jobs that AI is changing.
“They will cover health care, the trades, logistics, finance, the public service, tourism, and agriculture,” the platform says. “Farms will also get grants to adopt robotics, precision agriculture and water-saving technology.”
In addition, the ag community would have a say in watershed planning.
The party commits to double the Watershed Security Fund to $200 million.
“Farms need water too: a farm water stream will help build reservoirs, irrigation, dugouts and aquifer recharge, starting in regions with repeated drought, and reach $15 million a year once the fund is doubled. Farmers will have a formal seat in watershed planning,” CentreBC’s platform says.
Farms.com has contacted OneBC for information on its platform with respect to farmers and agriculture.
Information on the NDP and Green promises can be found here.