Released on December 16, 1996
Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada Minister Ralph Goodale, on behalf ofHuman Resources Development Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew, and
Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Minister Bob
Mitchell today announced $5 million in funding for the first 30
projects under the Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement on Strategic
Initiatives. The pilot projects will test new ways to improve the
links between jobs available and people seeking work in Saskatchewan.
The ministers made their announcement at Regina's Landmark Inn, site of
a hospitality industry training pilot project for Aboriginal people.
The Strategic Initiatives Agreement commits each government to
contribute up to $13 million over three years to fund innovative
projects that will address Saskatchewan's labour market needs. The
provincial JobStart/Future Skills training program is included as part
of Saskatchewan's financial contribution.
"These pilot projects provide an opportunity for Saskatchewan and
Canada to work in concert to ensure labour market arrangements are
co-ordinated and effective," Minister Goodale said. "These projects
are designed ultimately to create more and better employment
opportunities in this province."
Mitchell said the Holistic Training for the Hospitality Industry
project is a good example of partnerships that are being developed and
tested under the Strategic Initiatives Agreement. The Work/Study
project has as partners Ochapowace Human Resource Development
Corporation, The Landmark Inn, the Saskatchewan Tourism Education
Council, JobStart/Future Skills, the Saskatchewan Institute of Applied
Science and Technology, Saskatchewan Social Services and New Careers
Corporation. He said the Landmark Inn will become a centre of
excellence for accredited hospitality training for Aboriginal people.
"Through partnerships like this, we are able to provide on-site
training to balance the needs of learners with the needs of industry,"
Mitchell said. "Work/Study projects like this represent
made-in-Saskatchewan solutions and provide meaningful jobs."
Strategic Initiatives funding is allocated to three components:
Work/Study, Career Services and Labour Market Information. Funding for
the projects announced today totals $5,198,827. This includes
$2,488,827 for 18 Work/Study projects across the province, $1 million
for a Career Services project in Northern Saskatchewan that will
involve more than 30 pilot sites, and $329,500 for preliminary work on
two other Career Services projects. It also includes $1,380,500 for
nine projects under Phase 1 of the Labour Market Information component.
In addition to Strategic Initiatives funding, sponsor and partner
contributions in Work/Study amount to $4,556,217.
These Work/Study partnerships will provide skills development and
employment opportunities for about 700 Saskatchewan residents.
Additional projects will be announced as approved. All projects have
cost effectiveness and efficiency evaluations built into them.
The Government of Canada's funding of these initiatives falls within
the framework set out in the March 1996 budget. These projects
underline the commitment of both governments to establish spending
priorities that will best serve the people of Saskatchewan through the
most efficient use of tax dollars.
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For more information on the Canada-Saskatchewan Strategic Initiatives
Agreement or its pilot projects, call 1-800-597-8278.
Electronic copies of this material are available on the Internet:
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca.
For more information, contact:
Jean Gabert Wayne McElree
Manager Executive Director, Training Programs
Human Resource Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education
Centre of Canada and Skills Training
Yorkton Regina
Phone: (306) 786-5222 Phone: (306) 787-2093