Released on July 25, 1997
Federal Natural Resources Minister Ralph Goodale, MP for Wascana, onbehalf of Human Resources Development Minister Pierre S. Pettigrew,
and the Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training
Minister Joanne Crofford, today announced 24 new pilot projects
throughout Saskatchewan. Federal and provincial funding for these
projects, which totals $3.34 million, is allocated through the
Canada-Saskatchewan Strategic Initiatives Agreement.
The projects announced today include one which will train seven First
Nations graduates of the Integrated Resource Management program to
meet the entry requirements for employment as Conservation Officers.
The project is sponsored by the Federation of Saskatchewan Indian
Nations. A partnership agreement was signed today at a ceremony in
Prince Albert involving the FSIN, Saskatchewan Environment and
Resource Management, and Indian and Northern Affairs Canada.
Another project will provide apprenticeships for nine Regina women
pursuing journeyperson certificates in carpentry. The women have
formed a co-operative to act as their own employer while they complete
their training. Their co-operative will specialize in "barrier-free"
construction and renovations to make buildings accessible for people
with disabilities. Partners in this project include Saskatchewan
Women in Trades and Technology, Federal Business Development Bank, New
Careers Corporation, Canada Mortgage and Housing Corporation, and
South Saskatchewan Independent Living Centre.
Other projects include home based entrepreneurial training in a number
of locations in rural Saskatchewan, modular electrical apprenticeship
training in Moose Jaw, and commercial pilot training in Saskatoon.
"The Government of Canada is committed to helping people help
themselves," said Minister Goodale. "These projects give people the
specific skills they'll need to find meaningful, satisfying jobs."
"The Government of Saskatchewan is currently implementing a
made-in-Saskatchewan Training Strategy," said Minister Crofford.
"Partnerships between governments and among other agencies, like those
we are announcing today, can test new approaches to training delivery
for the benefit of all Saskatchewan people."
The Canada-Saskatchewan Strategic Initiatives Agreement commits each
government to contribute up to $13 million over three years to fund
innovative projects that will address the labour market needs of
Saskatchewan. Funding is allocated to three components: Work/Study,
Career Services, and Labour Market Information. Evaluating the pilots
for cost-effectiveness and efficiency is an integral part of all three
components. The provincial JobStart/Future Skills training program is
included as part of Saskatchewan's financial contribution.
Strategic Initiatives funding for the projects announced today totals
$3.34 million, including $1.45 million for Work/Study projects,
$170,320 for Labour Market Information projects and $1.72 million for
Career Services projects. In addition, sponsor and partner
contributions to Work/Study projects total $2.07 million. Work/Study
partnerships will provide potential employment opportunities to more
than 200 Saskatchewan residents by testing new approaches for future
training delivery.
With the projects announced today, total federal funding allocated
under the Canada-Saskatchewan agreement is $8.76 million. Thirty-one
other projects have been announced previously. Additional Strategic
Initiative projects will be announced as they are approved.
The federal funding of these initiatives falls within the framework
set out in the February 1997 federal budget. Skills training has also
been identified as a priority by the provincial government in its 1997
Throne Speech and provincial budget. These projects underline the
commitment of both governments to establish spending priorities that
will best serve the people of Saskatchewan through the efficient use
of tax dollars.
Further information on Canada-Saskatchewan Strategic Initiatives or
the pilot projects is available at 1-800-597-8278.
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For more information, contact:
Jean Gabert Wayne McElree
Human Resources Development Canada Post-Secondary Education
Yorkton, SK and Skills Training
Phone: (306) 786-5222 Regina, SK
Phone: (306) 787-8420
The January 18, 1996 news release (#025) announcing the
Canada-Saskatchewan Agreement, the December 16, 1996 news release
(#589) announcing 30 previous Strategic Initiative projects, and the
July 9, 1997 news release (#303) announcing one further project are
available on the Internet at:
http://www.gov.sk.ca/newsrel/archive.html
Electronic copies of this release are available at
http://www.hrdc-drhc.gc.ca