Government of BC invests $4M into tech talent accelerator

The Government of British Columbia today announced its expansion of the Canadian Tech Talent Accelerator (CTTA) program to prepare more than 1,800 jobseekers across the province for careers in the tech sector. The provincial government will renew its investment of $4 million into the project, which was created in partnership with NPower Canada, Microsoft Canada, CIBC, and Digital.

This second phase of the CTTA initiative will introduce new upskilling and opportunities in cybersecurity and  generative AI, to better prepare job seekers for the future of work. Doing so, the partners say, will support B.C.’s economy by equipping the workforce with digital skills necessary for innovation and economic growth.

The CTTA project has a focus on increasing the number of underrepresented and marginalized communities in B.C.’s growing tech sector. Of the more than 2,200 participants currently served by the program, 77 percent of participants are Black, Indigenous, or People of Colour; 65 percent are newcomers to Canada; 48 percent are women; and eight percent identify as LGBTQ2S+. The new investment aims to help similar groups gain access to local tech jobs.

Representatives from Digital, Microsoft Canada, CIBC, and NPower Canada — along with employer and community partners and NPower Canada alumni — gathered at Microsoft’s office in Vancouver for the announcement, where Brenda Bailey, Minister of Jobs, Economic  Development and Innovation, revealed the investment.

“B.C.’s continued support for the CTTA program means even more under-represented youth and adults in our province can develop the needed knowledge and skills to get into well-paying tech related  jobs,” she said. “The CTTA program contributes to making the province’s workforce more inclusive, highly skilled and competitive, and helps build British Columbia’s clean and innovative economy of the future.” 

The speakers noted that the commitment to diversity and inclusion within the CTTA aligns closely with the core missions and values of all partners. The announcement also fits within the B.C. government’s StrongerBC economic plan, which prioritizes inclusive growth to build a stronger province.

Today’s news also marks a busy week for Digital, the Vancouver-based innovation cluster for digital technologies, which yesterday unveiled co-investments of more than $53 million towards 11 consortiums creating AI solutions.

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