Gov't unveils $12 million plan
Jorge Barrera
Northern News Services
Yellowknife (Nov 06/00) - The cry for more skilled Northern workers is being answered by the Territorial government with a four year, $12.6 million training program.
 Jake Ootes |
The education strategy took six months to create and Ootes says this is the first time his department has produced such a sweeping plan.
"It's an important project for us," said Ootes, "It's important to have meaningful labour done by (Northerners)."
The lack of skills is already a problem in the Deh Cho and elsewhere.
"We're having difficulty filling skilled potions with Northerners," said Barb Rosko, human resource manager for Fort Liard-based Beaver Enterprises.
"We don't want to go south," she added.
Tuktuyoktuk mayor Ernest Pokiak echoed Rosko's concerns.
"It's important when jobs come into our area that people in this area get the jobs," said Pokiak. "Time has caught up with us -- people are not prepared."
The strategy is also aiming to give the education and training needed for flexible workers who can move up the labour ladder.
Pokiak says it's important to give training that opens different avenues for workers because development creates spin-off jobs.
"We don't just need welders or people who can operate machines," he said. "When something starts there are other jobs that are connected that need to be filled."
Both Pokiak and Rosko say they're encouraged with the GNWT's initiative on the cusp of so much potential employment.
"I think it's great," said Pokiak, "education is the key."
"There is a sense of urgency, we expect to have a lot of work," said Rosko.
Ootes hopes the federal government will share the same urgency because the four-year strategy depends heavily on government funding. Ootes hopes to get $3 million from Ottawa for 2000/2001 and has already committed $500,000 from the GNWT.
