Chaired jointly in 2006-2007 by:
1. Saskatchewan Northern Affairs for the provincial government
2. Athabasca Economic Development and Training Corporation representing Aboriginal training and economic development agencies
3. AREVA Resources Canada Inc. representing training agencies/industry.

Attended by
Decision-makers in training, planning, and economic development including representatives from federal and provincial governments, school divisions, training institutions, training funders, economic development agencies, local and Aboriginal authorities, and private industry.

1. Education and Training Initiatives

• In total this year, the uranium mining industry is providing over $100,000 in scholarships for northern students in post-secondary education. As well, the Mineral Sector Steering Committee, through the Multi-Party Training Plan, is providing two scholarships of $5000 each to students in mine-related university programs. The deadline for applications is June 30.

• NLMC agencies will meet in the autumn to arrive at a common definition and purpose of a “Northern Education Strategy”. Such a strategy would require achievable outcomes, industry's involvement and support, and a plan to link careers and training.

• Skills Canada is a national not-for-profit organization that actively promotes careers in skilled trades and technologies to Canadian youth. Through provincial, national, and international skills competitions, Skills Canada helps make these occupations more visible for teachers, students, parents, and the public. The Saskatchewan branch will host the provincial and the national skilled trades competitions in Saskatoon in 2007. The event will draw about 5,000 visitors to watch the 500 competitors who are from every province and territory. Agencies in northern Saskatchewan will work with Skills Canada to establish the first northern regional competition in March 2007. To become competitors, high school students are registered by their schools and apprentices are registered by their employers. Gold winners of the regional competitions move on to compete in the provincial competitions. The winners in each event become the provincial team to compete at the national level. Winners move on to the World Skills competition which will be hosted by Calgary in 2009. About 1,000 youth from 45 countries will compete.

• The Saskatchewan Labour Force Development Board is comprised of industry, Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce, labour and equity groups, governments and education representatives. It aims to foster and coordinate, through partnerships, the development of the Saskatchewan labour force. T he tasks of the Board include sharing information, advising the federal and provincial governments on labour market issues, and fostering training and socio-economic development. Last year, the Board began an organizational change to become more industry-based. The Board sees the need to work more closely with NLMC and to develop a central labour force information-gathering source in the province to more effectively link labour demand with supply.

2. Subcommittees' Training and Employment Work plans

• The Northern Apprenticeship Committee (NAC) employs two managers to assist apprentices in training and employment. NAC is planning a trades forum at Fort McMurray to share inter-provincial commonalities and discuss issues. It will be held on September 19 in conjunction with an economic conference. NAC managers are working with Skills Canada Saskatchewan to start trades competitions for youth in the northern region. NAC will advertise and promote the event in the autumn and arrange the competition in March so that winners can go on the provincial competitions in June. NAC is planning a Trades forum in conjunction with the November NLMC meeting. The purpose is to liaise with other agencies and industry and get ideas to do things better.

  
  
  

  • The Career Services Subcommittee, with membership from career service providers, is supported by the Keewatin Career Development Corporation (KCDC). To support career services this year, KCDC will maintain a career and employment website, facilitate Career Services Subcommittee meetings, deliver workshops for career practitioners, and undertake a survey of employers with CanSask Career offices in order to address their needs. This year, KCDC plans to deliver another “virtual” career symposium by video conferencing based on the success of the symposium held last year for 15 schools.

  
  

   

• The Forestry Training Subcommittee , consisting of forestry sector and training agencies, administered the 5-year Forestry Training Plan that ends June 30. Because an evaluation of the Plan found that stakeholders and industry partners were supportive of continuing the Plan, the subcommittee will begin negotiations for Phase II, identify partners, and review its funding guidelines as recommended in the evaluation. For 2006-7, the Province has provided $892,000 for the Forestry Training Plan – partners in the training programs provide additional funds. Priorities are trades and technical training. Uncertainties in the forestry industry will influence the partnership makeup of Phase II and the types of training that will be delivered.

   

• The Youth Working Circle of the Northern Human Services Partnership (NHSP) acts as the NLMC youth subcommittee. The Working Circle is setting up junior mayors and councils in northern Saskatchewan communities. The Working Circle has proposed establishing a Northern Saskatchewan Youth Council to be the umbrella organization for community youth groups, providing information sharing and coordination to help youth groups get their initiatives underway.

   

• The Gary Tinker Federation is undertaking a needs assessment for an activity centre in La Ronge to benefit 10 people with cognitive disabilities and provide respite for their caregivers. The Federation is preparing a report on how northern Saskatchewan people can be included in the Saskatchewan Disabilities Action Plan. Last year, the Federation placed 36 people with disabilities into employment under its wage subsidy program. The employment project for park maintenance at Ile a la Crosse was so successful that the Federation plans to have this as a long-term initiative and expand it to other communities

   

• Traditional Economies Subcommittee currently encompasses separate reports and activities of Saskatchewan Cooperative Fisheries Ltd. and Northern Saskatchewan Trappers Association. Fisheries members were pleased with the recommendations made by a Northern Affairs committee, which looked at options to support the commercial fishing industry. The Fisheries members have identified new markets for Saskatchewan freshwater fish – new markets are necessary for the feasibility of a commercial fish processing plant in Prince Albert . The next step is to develop an implementation plan and a new business plan for the plant. Over the past 10 years, the Northern Saskatchewan Trappers Association held workshops to train trappers in using the new certified killing and leg-hold traps, some of which are required to be in use by autumn 2007 to meet the obligations of the 1997 Agreement on International Humane Trapping Standards. The Association identified several needs of the sector including training the trainers, promoting the industry to youth, and developing a value-added industry such as tanning hides and making moccasins, mitts and hats.

   

• The Mineral Sector Steering Committee is led by industry and comprised of mining companies and training funding and delivery agencies. The Committee identifies training and skill needs for the northern mining and exploration industry, coordinates training, and approves funding from the Multi-Party Training Plan. Programs for 2006-7 include 1A Truck Driver, Small Boat Operator certification for the Southend graphite mine, a 2-year Mine Engineering Technology program brokered from the Haileybury School of Mines in Ontario , and a 2-year Chemical Technology program delivered in La Ronge and Saskatoon . The Mobile Training Lab will be utilized at Cigar Lake mine in the autumn to deliver electrical and industrial mechanics level 1 and 2 training. The delivery of exploration and underground mining programs will be dependant on training site availability.