Government is providing approximately $2 million in funding to JIBC to expand its paramedic programming.

See https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2023PSFS0005-000133

 

VICTORIA - British Columbians will have improved access to emergency health services as the Province invests approximately $2 million into expanding paramedic training programs in communities around the province.

Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson speaking at podium.
Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills Selina Robinson announces funding for an expansion of paramedic training at JIBC.

"Paramedics are the backbone of our emergency health services and our government is acting to strengthen our health system," said Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills. "Our government's investment will create opportunities for people to begin careers in emergency health care, leading to faster response times for British Columbians when they need it."

Government is providing approximately $2 million in funding to the Justice Institute of B.C. (JIBC) to expand its paramedic programming. The funding will help the primary care paramedic certificate program to be delivered to more than 100 students in Chilliwack, Kelowna, New Westminster, Trail and Victoria; and emergency medical responder training to approximately 30 participants in Cranbrook, Port Alberni and Prince George. The emergency medical responder training is a prerequisite for the primary care paramedic certificate program.

Dignitaries and paramedic students pose in front of JIBC display banner.
From bottom left, Jennifer Whiteside, New Westminster MLA and Minister of Mental Health & Addictions, Kathy Harms, Director, JIBC Health Sciences Division, Rhonda Larrabee, Chief, Qayqayt First Nation, Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, and Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development, with Primary Care Paramedic students following a funding announcement at JIBC's New Westminster campus.

"When people need emergency care, paramedics are often the first on scene, providing quality care and support for people and their families," said Adrian Dix, Minister of Health. "That's why our government is continuing to invest in training opportunities for paramedics, alongside other in-demand careers in health care, so that people have timely access to the care they need, when they need it. This is another action we are taking as part of B.C.'s Health Human Resources Strategy to build a better health-care system for B.C. for generations to come."

The funding comes from the Community Workforce Response Grant, which provides funding for communities and sectors to support in-demand skills training leading to secure and sustainable employment for British Columbians.

The expanded paramedic training locations are where JIBC offers training. The funding may be used to pay for transportation and housing for participants travelling from outside of those communities.

Paramedic students perform a training exercise while group of dignitaries observe.
Selina Robinson, Minister of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills, and New Westminster MLA Jennifer Whiteside visit a paramedic classroom during a tour of JIBC.

Since April 2021, the Community Workforce Response Grant has provided more than $20 million in funding to communities and service providers to train more than 1,665 people in health care-related positions. Examples include training to become primary-care paramedics, medical-laboratory assistants, health-care assistants, personal-support workers, medical-unit clerks and mental-health workers.

Creating opportunities for people to join the health-care workforce in B.C. is part of government's Health Human Resources Strategy, which was announced on Sept. 29, 2022. The strategy supports patients by ensuring they get the health services they need and are cared for by a healthy workforce. It focuses on 70 key actions to recruit, train and retain health-care workers, while redesigning the health-care system to foster workplace satisfaction and innovation.

Investing in training for emergency health-care workers is part of StrongerBC's Future Ready plan to make education and training more accessible, affordable and relevant to help businesses grow and prepare British Columbians for the jobs of tomorrow.

 

Quick Facts

  • The Community Workforce Response Grant provides funding for communities and sectors to support in-demand skills training leading to secure and sustainable employment.

  • Community Workforce Response Grant funding can be used to pay for:

    • skills training, including apprenticeship foundations, short-term, occupational and essential skills training;
    • employment-assistance services, such as resume writing, interview skills, pre- employment counselling and/or coaching, and Indigenous cultural components;
    • participant financial supports, such as child care, transportation, disability supports and personal protective equipment.
  • Funding amounts fluctuate based on student enrolment.

     

Learn More

To learn more about the Province's Health Human Resource Strategy, visit: https://news.gov.bc.ca/releases/2022HLTH0059-001464

To learn more about StrongerBC, visit: https://strongerbc.gov.bc.ca/

To learn more about programs at JIBC, visit: https://www.jibc.ca/areas-of-study

A backgrounder follows.

 

BACKGROUNDER

Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

Ministry of Health

 

What people are saying about the paramedic programs at JIBC

Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development, speaks at podium at JIBC.
Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development, speaks on the importance of supporting the training of skilled workers to meet labour demands.

Andrew Mercier, Minister of State for Workforce Development -

"These training programs will give participants the skills and experience they need to join the health-care system. By providing funding for paramedic and emergency health training programs, we're supporting a skilled workforce that benefits all British Columbians."

JIBC Director, Health Science Division Kathy Harms speaks at funding announcement.
Kathy Harms, Director of JIBC's Health Sciences Division, speaks on how the funding will support paramedic students who often are in financial need.

Kathy Harms, director of Health Sciences Division, JIBC -

"This funding has created a significant opportunity for students to answer the call to pursue a career in paramedicine at a critical time for the profession here in B.C. Paramedic students often indicate a high degree of financial need, and the program itself is very intense, making the balance of work and school difficult to manage. This funding, which will cover all the students' education expenses, will help alleviate the financial need, and allow students to focus more completely on their studies and success in the program."

Leanne Heppell, executive vice president & chief ambulance officer, BC Emergency Health Services -

"As BC Emergency Health Services continues to seek innovative ways to recruit staff throughout British Columbia, this funding will help increase access to paramedic training to help ensure we have a foundation of trained paramedics to serve communities in our province. With $2 million in funding at JIBC in both urban and rural communities, we can continue to fill existing vacancies, bolstering the pre-hospital emergency service delivery we provide to British Columbians."

Primary Care Paramedic student Kate Peer speaks at podium during funding announcement at JIBC.
Kate Peer, a Primary Care Paramedic student at JIBC, speaks on the impact she hopes to make as a paramedic and how the funding support will make a difference for her and her classmates.

Kate Peer, a harm-reduction volunteer and primary-care paramedic student -

"If we have this much of an impact as first-aid medics, how much could a paramedic team do? Thanks to the funding, I don't have to work a second job. You're investing in us, you believe in us. It's huge."

 

 

Contacts

Ministry of Health Media Relations

250 952-1887 (media line)

 

Ministry of Post-Secondary Education and Future Skills

Media Relations

250 508-5030 (media line)