John Horgan said Thursday that a re-elected New Democrat government would expand access to student grants and create thousands of spaces for tech programs at post-secondary institutions.
The B.C. Access Grant gives students at public post-secondary institutions up to $4,000 a year to help with the cost of programs leading to a certificate, diploma or degree. The amount is based on family income and the length of the program.
At a campaign stop in Vancouver-Langara, Horgan said the threshold for family income would be increased so that more middle-income families can access the grants.
“I think that’s what governments are supposed to do, and I’m very, very proud to announce today that we’re committed to not just having grants in place, but expanding those grants into the future,” he said.
Horgan also promised to create an additional 2,000 spaces in the province’s post-secondary institutions for tech jobs. In 2018, the province announced $4.4 million to add 2,900 spaces in technology-related programs, including biomedical engineering, computer science and manufacturing engineering.
“The tech sector needs to have people coming out of high school, out of college, out of universities that are prepared to step into a career, an exciting career, that’s transformative for people and for families,” Horgan said.
