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 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

• Northlands College distributed its calendar for 2006-7 to grade 12 students, partner agencies, and other agencies. The focus is on technical, trades and university programs to give students and adults time to plan their courses for autumn. More health, mining, and oil sands-related programs will be identified and delivered as needs emerge. The deadline for application is May 26, 2006 . The Regional Training Needs Assessment Report was also distributed. It is produced in partnership annually and aims to identify regional employment opportunities, identify employers' skill needs, and link to training opportunities.

• The Relevance career magazine was launched. The magazine and a new website aim to keep students in Saskatchewan by raising their awareness of career opportunities here in the province. The magazine includes information about job opportunities, career planning, and training needed for their career interests . 50,000 magazines will be sent to high school students in Saskatoon and northward, training institutions, friendship centres, employment centres, and northern band offices.

• Beginning in autumn 2006, Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) will deliver its process operator and power engineer components on the same schedule as other training institutes. The 2-year program will be delivered at Meadow Lake . Programs planned for Prince Albert include management studies, hospitality, information technology, and childcare and, in La Ronge, management studies and Adult 12. Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT) is researching the potential to deliver heavy equipment operator training which SIAST no longer delivers.

• The role of Construction Careers Projects is to develop skills and provide an opportunity for Aboriginal participants and others to establish careers in the construction industry. SIIT provides staff to the projects to help link clients to employment, training, and trade certification. Construction careers projects are in operation in Regina , Saskatoon , Prince Albert , and La Ronge and another is planned for Meadow Lake . Construction Careers in Prince Albert and La Ronge expanded their mandates to serve the forestry and mineral sectors as well. The Prince Albert Project requires all clients to take Construction Safety Training so that they have certification to help them in their job hunt. The Construction Worker Preparation Program has proven successful – it introduces students to aspects of housing construction including carpentry, electrical, and plumbing.

• Training funding agencies identified their training priorities for 2006-7 . Dumont Technical Institute will deliver adult basic education courses in several northern communities as well as truck driver training in Meadow Lake , oil field safety in Green Lake , and two licensed practical nursing programs in Prince Albert . Methy Pathways identified the need for a leadership program to empower people and help them see the value of completing their training. Metis Employment and training – Beauval will prioritize training for the mineral and oil sands sectors. The priority for Meadow Lake Tribal Council will be training for the oil and gas sector: students in the process operator program and the Aboriginal rig crew training program have quickly found employment. Woodland Cree Enterprises will focus on training partnerships, trades training, and preparation for jobs. Jim Brady Employment and Training will continue support for mineral sector, trades training for the construction sector and “training for trades” preparation program, and training for tourism (Aboriginal interpreter guide), health, and education sectors.

• Prince Albert Grand Council recently completed an Education Indicators report that provides an overview of the PAGC education organization. It will be used for planning, accountability, identification of educational needs, and as a baseline to prompt further research and analysis.

• The Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Network Inc . is a non-profit community-based organization committed to providing access to resources regarding Aboriginal literacy and advocating with government and agencies for better programming. The Network is arranging community forums to explain the results of the 2003 International Adult Literacy Survey. Saskatchewan Aboriginal Literacy Gathering and Awards Gala will be held in Saskatoon on May 9 to 11, 2006 . Participants will share information on best practices in Aboriginal literacy and h onour efforts made in the development and promotion of literacy.

2. Subcommittees' Training and Employment Work plans

• The Education and Training Subcommittee will hold a focus group on April 4 to continue to develop a Math/Science framework.

  
  
  
• The Athabasca Economic Development and Training Corp . is looking at expanding the commercial fishing industry on Lake Athabasca with processing at Fond du Lac . They also support a proposal for a regional training centre in the Athabasca basin that was submitted to the Northern Development Agreement for funding
  

   

• The Northern Labour Market Committee will ask government for leadership in developing an Education Strategy for the northern region. The challenge will be to coordinate the strategy through several northern education and training agencies, all of which would have to agree to implement the strategy, add its goals and initiatives to their own, and set aside their own jurisdictions. Additional key pieces are industry involvement and an Action Plan.

   

• The Northern Apprenticeship Committee (NAC) submitted a proposal to Northern Development Agreement (NDA) for funding for a second wage subsidy to continue support for apprentices. NAC's proposal for partnership funding towards the Mobile Training Lab was approved. The lab is under construction and should be ready for program delivery in the autumn. NAC will become a partner with the Oil Sands Subcommittee in the Transitions to Trades project to promote trades careers and offer career counseling for young adults attending northwest high schools. In another venture, NAC plans to establish a Skills Canada Competition in the northern region to promote trades awareness, showcase careers, and offer employers a recruitment venue. Two full time employees are in place in La Ronge and Beauval to link clients to work and training.

   

• The Career Services Subcommittee, with membership from career service providers, is supported by the Keewatin Career Development Corporation. The committee will host a “Lutice” professional development workshop for career counselors in June. The committee will work with Advanced Education's CanSask Career Services office to undertake a survey to identify employers' needs.

   

• The draft evaluation of the Forestry Training Plan was submitted to the Forestry Training Subcommittee and the Province. The draft evaluation shows that the forestry industry is still supportive of the Memorandum of Understanding and the Forestry Training Plan. The subcommittee's future activities will depend on government's response to the evaluation and the activity within the forestry industry. The forestry sector has been affected by high tariffs on softwood lumber exports and competition from pulp and paper operations starting up in warmer climates that can produce more cheaply.

   

• The new Health Sector Training Committee has a mandate to determine and assess the employment and training needs of the health sector in northern Saskatchewan and to develop and oversee the implementation of a long-term training strategy to train northerners for a range of occupations in the northern health sector. The Committee has started a work plan which includes identifying some short-term and long-term goals. Five primary areas have been identified: addictions, community services, health management, primary care, and nursing.

   

• The Youth Working Circle of the Northern Human Services Partnership (NHSP) acts as the NLMC youth subcommittee. The Working Circle is working with the federal government on an application for funding for the Community Mobilization Project to set up junior mayors and councils in northern Saskatchewan .

   

• Traditional Economies Subcommittee membership from Saskatchewan Cooperative Fisheries Lt. (SCFL) are awaiting a report from a government committee that will outline options to support the commercial fishing industry. In the meantime, SCFL hired a consultant to identify new markets that would not compete with Freshwater Fish Marketing Corp. and that report will be ready by the end of March.

   

• The Economic Development Subcommittee will arrange for an economic development workshop in Creighton in April and a north-wide economic development symposium in La Ronge in May. A report on the winter economic development workshop at Buffalo Narrows will be distributed soon and will include a regional action plan for the northwest area.

   

• The Mineral Sector Steering Committee identified a variety of training to be delivered under the Multi-Party Training Plan (MPTP) for 2006-7. The Committee now has members from the exploration industry so will be able to address that sector's training needs and connect MPTP graduates with exploration employment. The College will deliver a 2-year mine engineering technology diploma program commencing in the autumn. A chemical technician program will be delivered in La Ronge in partnership with the Saskatchewan Research Council since there isn't a large enough demand in the mineral sector to warrant a whole class. The Committee is looking at options for the delivery of diamond drill helper training.