Thanks for that question.
This really is an opportunity for job transition into the watershed sector. It's timely.
The working for watersheds initiative has highlighted the watershed sector's really significant role in supporting jobs. In B.C., it's more than 47,000 people annually.
There's a unique opportunity for workers in those traditional resource roles—whether that be heavy machinery, oil and gas, aquaculture or forestry—to pivot into this growing sector. Jobs within the watershed sector range from entry level to high skilled, seasonal to permanent, and technical to policy-oriented roles. They really can cater to individuals at various career stages, whether that's youth entering the workforce or experienced workers transitioning.
The watershed sector is primed right now for further growth over the next decade. Federal investments, particularly through mechanisms like the B.C. watershed security fund, which I mentioned earlier, can really serve as a catalyst to foster growth in this sector, while also attracting other investments and creating opportunities for a just transition for workers that allows them to stay in their communities with family-sustaining jobs. Then that's an opportunity for them to be reinvesting back into their local economies.