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The Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the Northern Manitoba Sector Council today announced they are working in partnership to help increase skilled labour in northern Manitoba through the implementation of a long-term strategy to support skill development programming.

Funding of $606,865 from the Province of Manitoba and $115,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada toward this initiative was announced today by the Honourable Steve Ashton, Minister of Manitoba Intergovernmental Affairs on behalf of Andrew Swan, Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade; and the Honourable Senator Terry Stratton, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.

"Building the North is a key component to our northern development strategy", said Minister Steve Ashton. “We must work with our partners, the federal government and Manitoba industry, and invest in skill development so we can retain skilled workers in northern Manitoba.”

“Our Government is pleased to be part of this partnership which will help build Manitoba’s workforce and support the local economy,” said Senator Stratton.  ”Together with our partners — the Province of Manitoba and the Northern Manitoba Sector Council — we are creating an environment that provides for a highly educated and skilled workforce.”

The Northern Manitoba Sector Council has developed a work plan consisting of four critical elements to address the shortage of skilled labour in northern Manitoba.  These elements include:

• Researching current and projected job vacancies, and analysis of the skills gap and skills development needs of the region;
• Assessing skills development needs and developing and coordinating skills training at major centres and communities throughout the north;
• Recruiting strategies to encourage people with the needed skills to see northern Manitoba and northern Manitoba employers as a great place to live and work; and
• Developing an advocacy and outreach program with secondary and post-secondary institutions to orient career paths and educational processes that support northern opportunities.

"Employers in northern Manitoba offer some of the most dynamic and rewarding career opportunities that are available in the province, yet we face unique challenges in recruitment and in skills development in our northern communities," said Doug Lauvstad, Executive Director, Northern Manitoba Sector Council.  "This funding will allow our organization to move quickly to implement leading strategies to address these challenges and to extend training opportunities to communities throughout northern Manitoba."

The Northern Manitoba Sector Council Inc. was formed in September 2007 as a not-for-profit corporation.  The interest in creating this council came from industry participants in mining, forestry and energy, which realized that the necessary skilled people were no longer readily available for their enterprises. These key industry participants are Vale Inco Ltd, HudBay Minerals Inc., Garson Gold Mines, Crowflight Resources, Tolko Ltd, Louisiana Pacific, and Manitoba Hydro.

The purpose of the Council is to focus on and resolve regional and community-based skill development issues to enable northern Manitoba to grow and prosper economically.  The NMSC will be comprised of five staff members who will be located in The Pas, Flin Flon and Thompson, Manitoba.  Funding support on a sustaining basis will be made available from the Province of Manitoba and industry.

For additional information, contact:

Lee Gregg
A/Senior Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0701
1-888-338-WEST (9378)
http://www.wd-deo.gc.ca/

Joe Czech
Communications Coordinator
Communication Services Manitoba
Telephone: (204) 945-6778
http://www.gov.mb.ca/