The Reminder is making its archives back to 2003 available on our website. Please note that, due to technical limitations, archive articles are presented without the usual formatting.
The Manitoba government is undertaking several initiatives to expand Aboriginal participation in skilled trades and is working with an advisory committee recently appointed by the province's Apprenticeship and Trades Qualifications Board, Advanced Education and Training Minister Diane McGifford has announced. "Manitoba has a young and growing Aboriginal population that will form a significant part of our future workforce," said McGifford. "As part of our training strategy, we are encouraging more First Nations, Métis and Inuit communities to support community-based apprenticeship and other training programs." "Our government is committed to improving Aboriginal employment opportunities, and apprenticeship training is an important part of this plan," said Aboriginal and Northern Affairs Minister Oscar Lathlin. "Apprenticeship training will help to open doors for communities to achieve independent economic development and give residents an opportunity to have long-term employment." The government is currently working in partnership with nine Aboriginal communities to deliver apprenticeship training on-site, mainly in the trades of carpenter, plumber and construction electrician. The University College of the North will oversee delivery of all northern apprenticeship programs. The training has addressed community infrastructure needs and is giving the 131 registered apprentices from these communities meaningful work experience through construction and renovation of homes and buildings. The ministers noted the province wants to ensure as many Aboriginal and northern Manitobans as possible are qualified to work on planned capital projects such as the expansion of the Red River Floodway and construction of northern generating stations. Pre-project training initiatives are part of the process and will help strengthen the province's overall workforce at a time when many skilled tradespeople are nearing retirement age.
