June 21, 2005

The Manitoba government has committed $175,000 to enhance services and increase co-ordination to support training initiatives in the North, Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin and Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford announced today.

"Our government is continuing to work on key objectives in the province’s Northern Development Strategy including increasing community and economic development opportunities for Aboriginal and northern Manitobans," Lathlin said. "This funding will support larger-scale training and employment programs that have been ongoing in northern Manitoba over the past several years."

Proposed northern hydroelectric development is providing new training and employment opportunities for northern Aboriginal people. The funding will be used at two pilot sites, Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation and Tataskweyak Cree Nation. Goals include developing common assessment and evaluation tools and processes, and incorporating essential skills assessment into training programs. Trainers will also introduce Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition (PLAR) as a tool to identify and assess core skills that have already been learned.

"Manitoba employers and educational institutions are using PLAR because it saves time and money. It speeds up the training process as communities prepare for potential employment on hydro projects," McGifford said. "Investing in training and assessment tools helps build community training and employment capacity and provides greater opportunities for the northern economy through long-term sustainable employment."

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