Released on June 12, 1998
The Honourable Ralph Goodale, Minister of Natural Resources andFederal Interlocutor for Metis and non-status Indians, on behalf of
the Honourable Pierre S. Pettigrew, Minister of Human Resources
Development Canada, and the Honourable Joanne Crofford, Saskatchewan
Minster of Post Secondary Education and Skills Training, today
announced a pilot project (Youth Computer Information Co-operative
Program) to provide Metis youth with work experience in information
systems technology.
Minister Goodale announced Human Resources Development Canada funding
of $74,392 under the Youth Employment Strategy. Human Resources
Development Canada is also providing $69,416 through Metis Employment
and Training of Saskatchewan, Inc.(METSI), under the bilateral labour
market agreement with the Metis Nation of Saskatchewan. As well,
Minister Crofford announced Saskatchewan Post-Secondary Education and
Skills Training JobStart/Future Skills funding of $35,000 for the
project along with Parkland Regional College and Southeast Regional
College who are each contributing $5,000 to the project.
"The Government of Canada's goal is to help young Canadians escape the
no job/no experience, no experience/no job cycle," said Minister
Goodale. "Creating work experience for young Canadians is a
major goal of this Government. Projects like this one, funded
through the Youth Employment Strategy, provide young people with
the work experience they need to make a smooth transition into
the world of work."
"Eduction and work experience means better access to jobs for
skilled workers and an improved economy for Saskatchewan," said
Minister Crofford. "We are investing in Metis youth through our
JobStart/Future Skills training program by helping them gain the
skills employers need in today's global marketplace. This is an
important part of The Saskatchewan Training Strategy."
Fourteen Metis youth will receive work experience in electronic
data processing and computer programming with an emphasis on
business applications. This program is accredited with the
Saskatchewan Institute of Applied Science and Technology (SIAST)
and is offered through Parkland Regional College.
"The involvement of local, provincial and regional employers is a
key component of the project," said Richard Klyne, project
co-ordinator. "Pan Canadian Petroleum Ltd., Saskatchewan Wheat
Pool, Crown Life Insurance, SaskTel, Saskatchewan Environment and
Resource Management and Weyerhauser Canada Ltd. are the employers
committed to hiring these students during the work placement."
The goal of this program is to equip youth with the skills
required to work in Saskatchewan's growing information systems
sector. Participants will work as computer programmers,
programmer/analysts and systems analysts. Participants will also
be able to obtain advance standing toward courses leading to
university degrees and professional accounting designations.
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For more information, contact:
Lisa Danyluk
Human Resources Development
Canada
Phone: (306)780-5263
Richard Klyne
Southeastern M‚tis Development
Corporation
Phone: (306)332-2332
Brian Harris, Director
Partnerships, Programs and
Strategic Services Group
HRDC Saskatchewan Region
Phone: (306)780-5939
Fax: (306)780-6717
brian.harris@hrdc-drhc.gc.ca
Rick Pawliw
Saskatchewan Post-Secondary
Education and Skills Training
Phone: (306)787-5984