News Release

BATHURST (GNB) – The provincial government is investing $1.3 million to help establish Atlantic Canada’s first specialized training centre for the mining and drilling sectors. The centre will be headquartered at the Collège communautaire du Nouveau-Brunswick (CCNB) Bathurst campus.

“As your government, we understand how important education and training are to the New Brunswick economy,” said Premier Brian Gallant. “This training centre will create jobs and strengthen the New Brunswick workforce, making us a great destination for mining project investments.

“Mining is a high-value industry offering high-wage jobs and contributions to the provincial economy, which can be used to help fund education, health care and other provincially funded programs.”

Funding for the project will go toward purchasing heavy-equipment simulators; buying a registered heavy-goods vehicle; purchasing a trailer to move the training equipment; hiring training experts to develop program content; training in simulation and security; hiring a manager; and maintenance and site preparation costs.   

“This region has plenty of residents who have developed years of experience working in the mining and drilling industries and who are more than qualified to pass along knowledge to the next generation,” said Acadie-Bathurst MP Serge Cormier. “That is why the Government of Canada is pleased to support this project, which will enable CCNB to contribute to the industry’s succession planning efforts while helping to diversify the local economy here in Bathurst.”

Cormier attended for federal Innovation, Science and Economic Development Minister Navdeep Bains, who is also minister responsible for the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA).

“We have been working on this for a long time, so we are really happy with the official announcement today,” said Liane Roy, president and CEO of CCNB. “The workforce of that industry is getting older and we need to prepare a new generation of workers. These modern simulators will help CCNB respond to the demand of this industry by providing skilled workers. CCNB wants to become a leader in mining education, not only in the province of New Brunswick, but in Eastern Canada.”

The provincial government is investing more than $1.3 million through the Regional Development Corporation and Department of Post-Secondary Education, Training and Labour. The federal government is making a non-repayable contribution of $185,000 through ACOA’s Business Development Program. CCNB is also investing $265,000 in the project.