THIRD FIVE-YEAR MULTI-PARTY TRAINING PLAN AGREEMENT SIGNED

Released on October 8, 2003

The provincial government has committed $13.7 million to the third phase of the Multi-Party Training Plan (MPTP), for training in northern Saskatchewan.

Participating agencies will share funding of $13.7 million over five years. By the end of this third phase of the MPTP, a total of $40 million will have been invested in training northerners for highly skilled jobs in northern Saskatchewan.

"The MPTP supports the training, hiring and advancement of residents of northern Saskatchewan in the mining industry. More than 1,200 training certificates have been awarded in apprenticeship, technical and skills training and in academic upgrading over the past 10 years during Phase I and Phase II. Phase III will encompass innovative initiatives with schools to improve students' academic achievements and career awareness," Learning Minister Judy Junor said.

Eighty-three percent of the students in Phase I and Phase II completed their programs. It is estimated that 81 per cent of the students in the first two phases of the MPTP were of Aboriginal ancestry.

The MPTP is a unique multi-stakeholder partnership between public, private and non-profit organizations. It enables competing mining companies to pool their labour projections and other partners to combine resources in linking training directly to the mineral sector's demand. Training initiatives are identified by the Mineral Sector Steering Committee of the Northern Labour Market Committee.

The 14 partnering agencies include: Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission; Northlands College; Prince Albert Grand Council; Meadow Lake Tribal Council; Methy Pathways Board Inc.; Northcote Métis Development Corporation; Métis Employment and Training, Beauval; Jim Brady Employment and Training Centre; Cameco Corporation; Claude Resources Inc.; COGEMA Resources Inc.; Saskatchewan Learning; Saskatchewan Northern Affairs; and Saskatchewan Community Resources and Employment.

"Through the MPTP we are successfully connecting northerners to skilled jobs in the mining sector - this is good news for northerners, our economy and Saskatchewan," Community Resources and Employment Minister Glenn Hagel said.

"The aim of the Multi-Party Training Plan is consistent with the primary theme of the Northern Strategy to promote social and economic development in the North," Northern Affairs Minister Buckley Belanger said.

"The Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission will continue working with the other partners to help northerners, and particularly northerners of Aboriginal ancestry to build skilled careers in the mineral sector," Commission CEO Bob Guthrie said.

The Government of Canada is participating in the Multi-Party Training Plan III through its contributions under the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Development Agreement with the Province of Saskatchewan and through Aboriginal Human Resource Development agreements with Aboriginal Authorities.

Phase I of the MPTP was started in July, 1993 as a $10.5 million training-to-employment initiative among the province, federal government, Aboriginal agencies, Northlands College and the northern mining industry. Phase II was signed in 1998, expanding the total commitment to $13 million and its membership and goals to include economic development.

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For More Information, Contact:

Jacquie McLean Learning Regina Phone: (306)787-5609 Email: jacquie.mclean@sasked.gov.sk.ca Cell: (306)535-2261