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Under the Government of Canada’s Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan, the Honourable Gail Shea, Minister of National Revenue and Regional Minister for Prince Edward Island, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of State for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and La Francophonie, today announced an investment for Holland College to purchase state-of-the-art equipment for metal trades programming.

“With the Government’s announcement to rebuild the Royal Canadian Navy and the Canadian Coast Guard fleets, Holland College was one of the community colleges in Atlantic Canada that anticipated a future increase in demand for skilled workers, many in specialized metal trades,” said Minister Shea. “In order to meet an increased demand for welders, the intake of students for these specialized programs at colleges must increase. That is why we are proud to provide funding for this additional state-of-the-art equipment that will be necessary to handle the future demand, one of the positive spin-offs that are expected with this major shipbuilding initiative.”

The Government of Canada’s Atlantic Shipbuilding Action Plan was created to ensure businesses across Atlantic Canada are in the best position to seize all opportunities related to the National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy. For more information, visit: www.acoa-apeca.gc.ca/eng/Pages/Atlantic-Shipbuilding-Action-Plan.aspx.

“I don’t know if it would be possible to exaggerate the opportunity this represents for people who find work on these ships. This project could represent an entire career of employment,” said Alberton-Roseville MLA Patrick Murphy, appearing on behalf of Innovation and Advanced Learning Minister Allen Roach. “Our Island businesses are attending meetings this week to help them seize that opportunity and now we are helping our Island workers to do the same.”

“Holland College is pleased to be the recipient of this Government of Canada investment. The National Shipbuilding Procurement Strategy and this region’s significant role in it, has certainly created an increased awareness in many of our trades programs, particularly welding, which is at the top of the list. The equipment purchased will significantly enhance our ability to deliver state-of-the-art training to students at our Georgetown and West Prince campuses,” said Dr. Brian McMillan, President, Holland College.

The Government of Canada, through ACOA’s Business Development Program, is investing $269,044 towards the purchase of state-of-the-art equipment that will be used in Holland College’s expanded offering of the Welding programs in Georgetown and West Prince.