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By David Opinko/LethbridgeNewsNOW

Province announces $5M to get 500 unemployed Albertans Class 1 licences

Oct 1, 2021 | 3:05 PM

LETHBRIDGE, AB – The Government of Alberta says it is “driving” unemployed Albertans back to work.

As part of the second phase of the Driving Back to Work program, $5-million will be spent in 2021-22 to help those currently out of work with the opportunity to obtain a Class 1 driver’s license.

“Driving Back to Work has proven to be successful in getting Albertans back into the workforce,” says Transportation Minister Rajan Sawhney. “Putting unemployed Albertans back in the driver’s seat will help our economy grow and thrive. This program will also enhance safety on our roads – a safe driver is a well-trained driver.”

The program was first approved in 2020, which has people looking for careers in commercial truck driving taking a two-year program.

101 Albertans who were wait-listed last year will receive grant funding this year. 400 will be selected October 1 to begin Mandatory Entry-Level Training (MELT) in the coming weeks.

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The grant will cover about 90 per cent of MELT’s cost, or about $9,000 each.

“Commercial transportation is an essential service,” adds Jude Grover, Board Chair of the Alberta Motor Transport Association. “Programs and funding commitments like this help our industry train the safe and professional commercial drivers Alberta needs quickly to fill job vacancies, make our supply chain more resilient and to keep Alberta’s economy moving forward.”

Since the first round of funding, 249 people complete the program and obtained their Class 1 licenses.

The industry has warned of a potential shortage of 3,600 commercial drivers in Alberta by 2023.