SUBSCRIBE: Missing news on social media? Subscribe to CHAT News Today's DAILY newsletter and stay up to date with your city.

Province proposes $50 million to expand technology programs at colleges and universities

Mar 14, 2018 | 5:15 PM

EDMONTON — The provincial government is aiming to grow the number of students in the technology sector.

The government tabled Bill 2, the Growth and Diversification Act, in the provincial legislature on Wednesday. If passed, the act would create 3,000 new spaces for technology programs in Alberta’s colleges, universities and polytechnics.

“Alberta students deserve learning opportunities that prepare them for good jobs in a diversified economy,” said Marlin Schmidt, Minister of Advance Education, in a statement. “Working together, we will help young people succeed in the technology jobs waiting for them today – and put our province at the forefront of the technological transformation of our world.”

The bill would also create a Talent Advisory Council on Technology, made up of industry and academic leaders, to ensure the new spaces meet industry needs.

Deron Bilous, Minister of Economic Development and Trade, said in the news release that the province is projecting a labour shortage of computer and information systems professionals by 2025, in addition to a shortage of software designers, programmers, and developers.

“Alberta is a young, talented province, but today there about 1,000 more good tech-job vacancies than graduates ready to fill them,” he stated. “Tomorrow, there will be more. That’s why we are supporting technology-related programs that will help homegrown businesses expand and make an Alberta an even more globally competitive place for international companies to invest.”

The bill would allocate $43 million to support the spaces and $7 million for scholarships.

More details about tax credits related to the bill will be released in the next several days.