Released on March 24, 1997
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training Minister Bob Mitchelltoday said the new provincial budget invests significantly in training
to develop the skills and talents of Saskatchewan people. Funding for
technical education and training increases from $91 million in 1996-97
to $117 million in 1997-98.
"This new provincial funding is dedicated to support a made-in-
Saskatchewan training strategy which will meet the needs of
Saskatchewan people and the labour market," Mitchell said. "Over three
years the soon-to-be-released strategy will create approximately 10 per
cent more training and employment opportunities."
Mitchell said the new training monies address the federal governmentþs
withdrawal from training. "The federal withdrawal would have
devastated some of our key training programs. This budget replaces
federal money that was cut in critical programs and provides additional
funding for new priorities."
Highlights of government 1997-98 training initiatives include:
an additional $3.4 million to expand the successful
JobStart/Future Skills program to include training for existing
workers, in addition to workbased training for the unemployed;
and to develop new sector partnerships to encourage industries to
address their training needs;
maintained funding for apprenticeship programs in the face
of federal cuts, and support of an industry-led process to
chart future directions for apprenticeship;
a $2.2 million increase to maintain access to basic
education and literacy programs;
delivery of the $5.4 million Saskatchewan Skills Development
Program through the department;
coordination of training and labour market services,
including services provided by New Careers Corporation for
social assistance recipients, and the redirection of New
Careers administrative savings into improved counselling and
assessment services for basic education students;
as part of social assistance redesign, provision of $16.7
million for a new provincial training allowance to help low-
income students access training;
a new $1.4 million pilot project in Prince Albert, Youth
Futures, which will develop the skills of young social
assistance recipients to prepare them for jobs; and
maintenance of operating grants to SIAST, regional colleges
and Dumont Technical Institute at the 1996-97 levels of
$74.5 million, plus a $2 million increase in capital grants
to these institutions.
"Post-secondary education and skills training is a priority of this
government," Mitchell said. "People need more education and training
opportunities to prepare for jobs in our growing economy. We will
continue to work with industry, communities, training institutions and
other governments to build on the strengths of our current system and
ensure our training resources meet the needs of all Saskatchewan
people."
-30-
For more information, contact:
Lily Stonehouse
Assistant Deputy Minister
Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training
Regina
Phone (306) 787-7386