Having a feeling of self-worth is more than getting drivers license ... and that hold true for all British Columbians ... not just First Nations peoples

In a BC government news media release this morning, it was announced that free driver training was going to be made available to First Nations people living in BC’s north.

Access to safe transportation has been identified as a critical issue for women in the North, including through the report of the National Inquiry into Missing and Murdered Indigenous Women and Girls, the story stated

The release stated that more than ... 1,000 people in Indigenous communities in B.C.’s North Coast and Nechako regions are getting access to driver training, opening the doors to job opportunities and safer travel.

The Province is partnering with Terrace-based All Nations Driving Academy (ANDA) to deliver driver training in rural Indigenous communities. The training will help people travel to work, visit family, access health care and participate in B.C.’s thriving economy.

Dear government of BC,

Stop the fight against the jobs ALL British Columbians can benefit from, and that help bring better value to the driver training you just announced, and help in the journey of building stronger communities.

Sincerely,
Everyday British Columbians

Melanie Mark, Minister of Advanced Education, Skills and Training. “Opening doors for individuals in more rural areas provides them access to the training and skills required to be independent members of their communities. This expanded support will also empower Indigenous peoples, especially women, to travel with a greater sense of safety along the Highway 16 corridor.”

The provincial government will be investing $360,000 in courses and services for people to secure their Class 7 learner and novice driver’s licences -- funding that builds upon a previous investment of $80,000 that helped 214 people get the training.  Punching those numbers in my calculator indicates am approximate cost of $374 to train each driver.

How effective however is that going to be, first of all, in providing safety for women to travel in safety ... or for First Nations people to even get to jobs accessible through having a driver’s license? 

Honestly ... $384 is a drop in the bucket, and here’s why!

LET’S LOOK AT ALL COSTS INVOLVED when it comes to driving .... fuel... maintenance ... tires ... insurance, all of that is going to run upwards of $4,000 a year ... and then what about a mid priced used vehicle at say $15,000 and up

Where is that money going to come from?

“Studies have shown that between 5% and 45% of Indigenous peoples living on reserves do not have their driver’s licence, which can significantly reduce options for employment,” said Lucy Sager, CEO of All Nations Driving Academy.

She continued, “We hear over and over from our participants that obtaining their licence has had a profound impact on their livelihood, helps families stay connected and makes travel safer for everyone.”

Just providing the training, without a means to use that training, is not going to provide First Nations people with access to good jobs – but it can be ONE OF the steps necessary.

Having a feeling of self-worth is more than getting drivers license ... and that hold true for all British Columbians ... not just First Nations peoples ... especially the young.  Jobs in forestry ... mining ... resource development ... construction ... building trades and more will also be needed as just another part of each individual developing to the potential they desire.

Advanced Education / Skills Minister Melanie Mark ... Premier John Horgan ... Environment Minister George Heyman ... Labour Minister Harry Bains --- all of you will need go work together as a team to ensure those jobs are available because right now each of you is off traveling down your own and those roads are not even closed to running parallel in the same direction.

Dear government of BC,

Stop the fight against the jobs ALL British Columbians can benefit from, and that help bring better value to the driver training you just announced, and help in the journey of building stronger communities.

Sincerely,
Everyday British Columbians