A federal investment aims to provide in-person skills training to nearly 1,850 mid-career workers and new workers, including Indigenous people in remote communities throughout the Northwest Territories.
The initiative is focussed on helping workers develop the expertise required for transitioning to low-carbon employment.
Minister Rebecca Alty, MP for the N.W.T. and Minister of Crown-Indigenous Relations, announced the federal investment of over $8 million through the Sustainable Jobs Training Fund. The funding will support the project led by the Mine Training Society, called Sustainable North: Our Workforce project.
Minister Alty made the announcement today in the city of Yellowknife on behalf of the Minister Patty Hajdu.
The minister added that an advisory committee made up of employers, industry stakeholders and community service agencies is also being formed as part of the project. The group is to oversee training programs to ensure that training reflects industry requirements and to ensure participants have access to valuable, job-ready training.
Minister Alty said that this project is part of the federal government’s commitment to create sustainable job opportunities for workers and aligns with Canada’s interim Sustainable Jobs Plan for 2023 to 2025 and efforts to reach net-zero emissions.
The minister underscored that these efforts are critical to promoting needed economic change, growth and prosperity for Indigenous communities of the North
“In supporting this project, our government is helping make sure that workers across the North – including Indigenous workers – have access to the kind of hands-on training they need for good jobs in the low-carbon economy. This investment not only supports careers, but it will also help transform Canada’s economy and ensure that major projects are built with strong Indigenous partnerships,” said Minister Alty.
Minister Alty told True North FM that the territorial and federal governments are continuing to work with First Nations, Inuit and Metis communities across the territory to achieve economic Reconciliation.
More details to come on this story.
