The BC Aboriginal Mine Training Association (BC AMTA) will close its doors June 15 unless it can secure 11th-hour funding to support its operations.
The organization supplies has been supplying job-ready candidates to B.C.’s mining sector for two and a half years. In a statement, BC AMTA’s executive director Laurie Sterritt said that the organization had an original goal to place 148 people in jobs.
“Through hard work and a passionate commitment to our mandate, we doubled that and today, more than 310 aboriginal men and women have found sustainable employment through their participation in BC AMTA skills training programs.”
Sterritt added that the association has found support from industry, with commitments for 650 jobs and more than $12 million in in-kind contributions.
But she said that: “While this satisfies stated federal funding requirements, we have yet to receive confirmation of government support.”
The association has been struggling to secure funding for some time. BC AMTA said last December that it would begin a formal shutdown process if the federal and provincial governments failed to financially support the industry association.
Sterritt said senior management will continue to search for funding until the end of July.
“My hope is that we will secure new funding over the coming few weeks so we can continue to develop a legacy of increased aboriginal training, employment and participation in our provincial and federal economies,” she said. “If not, BC AMTA will have to shut its doors permanently.”
