The training coordinator with the International Union of Operating Engineers (IUOE) Local 115 says retraining people who’ve lost their job in the forestry sector to work in heavy construction is a no-brainer.

Speaking on NL Newsday, Jeff Gorham says B.C. is going through a construction boom, adding companies are looking for as much skilled labour as possible.

“Some companies will look at bringing people in from overseas as temporary foreign workers, but why would we do that when we have local supply here?” Gorham said.

“If we have individuals in the forestry industry who have lost their jobs but they have good skills that are transferable, why wouldn’t be take a look at those individuals and get them ready to work in different industries?”

He says $450,000 in provincial funding will help train 25 people in asphalt paving and heavy construction. According to the province, people in the Clearwater, Merritt, the South Cariboo, and Kamloops areas will benefit.

“There’s Emil Anderson Construction out of Kelowna. Locally in Kamloops, we have BA Blacktop and we also have Dawson Construction. And so Dawson as well is another company similar to Emil Anderson where they do a lot of road work,” noted Gorham.

“So regardless of whether you live in 100 Mile House, Merritt, or right in Kamloops, there’s opportunities for individuals to work for those companies.”

And he points out that there are two programs available to potential workers in the construction industry.

“So one program which we are actually started to recruit now for already is the asphalt paving program. It’s the crews that are repaving the roads,” said Gorham.

“The second program that we are looking at doing is the heavy equipment operator program, and that program is geared towards more of the dirt equipment. So things like an excavator, a grader, a dozer type of thing.”

People who want to apply are asked to should contact their local WorkBC centre or the IUOE Training Association.