MORE TRAINING FOR FORESTRY JOBS

Released on April 17, 2000

A new education and training strategy means Saskatchewan workers, especially

Aboriginal people and northerners, will be able to take advantage of job

opportunities in the province's forest industry.



The $1 million training initiative will help provide trained workers to meet

the needs of the expanding forestry industry in the province. Training will be

planned and delivered in partnership with industry, SIAST, Regional Colleges,

Aboriginal institutions and others. This approach is modeled on the successful

Multi-Party Training Plan used in the mining industry.



"The forestry initiative creates great opportunities especially for Aboriginal

people, for youth, and for northerners," Post-Secondary Education and Skills

Training Minister Glenn Hagel said. "The forestry training program is an

important example of our commitment to provide job and skills training that

makes sense for Saskatchewan people."



"The great thing about these new forestry developments is that they are

sustainable and as a renewable resource, our forests can provide jobs for

current and future generations of northerners," Environment and Resource

Management Minister Buckley Belanger said.



"This new training initiative supports the goals of the province's Northern

Strategy, diversifying the northern economy with the full participation of

northern people," Northern Affairs Minister Keith Goulet said.



The new program is just one of the training initiatives contained in the recent

Provincial Budget. Others include $2.85 million to support the expanded

Nursing Education Program and an additional $1 million for the Employability

Assistance for People with Disabilities Program.



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For more information, contact:



Neil Yeates

Deputy Minister

Post-Secondary Education and Skills Training

Regina

Phone: (306) 787-5586