Skills Task Force consultations begin

Education Minister Joan Burke announced today that the Skills Task Force will hold public consultations to help address challenges in the skilled trades fields. The Skills Task Force is a partnership of business, labour, education and other key stakeholders mandated to ensure responsive training, education and supports to develop the province�s workforce.

"With many of our industry sector employers facing increasing demands for skilled workers, and given our demographic changes and migration trends, improving our province�s skills base has become a key economic challenge," said Minister Burke. "It is important that we hear from students, workers, employers and others about how we can continue to build a qualified and skilled workforce that meets industry requirements."

Consultations will begin next week in Happy Valley-Goose Bay and continue province-wide until the end of September. Invitations have been forwarded to stakeholders; however the consultations are open to the public and the Skills Task Force welcomes the views of anyone with a vested interest in the future of skilled trades in Newfoundland and Labrador.

In addition to garnering information via public consultations, the task force has established a web site, and interested individuals or organizations are invited to submit written briefs via fax, e-mail or regular mail. Contact information is available through the Skills Task Force website at www.gov.nl.ca/edu/skills.

"I encourage all stakeholders to take the time to provide their suggestions or proposals via the web site or through the consultations," said Bob Ridgley, MHA for St. John�s North and chair of the Skills Task Force. "We want these consultations to be productive. We want to hear what is happening at the regional level and respond accordingly. And we can only do this if the people in the towns and communities throughout the province tell us what is working and what is needed. We need their help to ensure relevant educational programming and a strong provincial workforce for the future."

Media contact: Jacquelyn Howard, Communications, (709) 729-0048, or 689-2624

Schedule of Regional Consultations � Skills Task Force

Date	Community	Time	Meeting Place
August 28, 2006	Happy Valley-Goose Bay	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	College of the North Atlantic
August 29, 2006	Labrador City	9:00 a.m.- 12:00 p.m.	Carol Inn
September 6, 2006	St. Anthony	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Vinland Motel
September 7, 2006	Corner Brook	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Holiday Inn
September 7, 2006	Stephenville	7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.	Holiday Inn
September 8, 2006	Port Aux Basques	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	St. Christopher�s Hotel
September 11, 2006	Baie Verte	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Baie Vista Inn
September 11, 2006	Grand Falls-Windsor	7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.	Mount Peyton Hotel
September 12, 2006	Bay d�Espoir	12:00 p.m.- 3:00 p.m.	Vancor Motel
September 12, 2006	Gander	7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.	Hotel Gander
September 18, 2006	Bonavista	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Hotel Bonavista
September 18, 2006	Clarenville	7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.	St. Jude Hotel
September 19, 2006	Marystown	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Marystown Hotel & Convention Centre
September 21, 2006	Carbonear	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Fong�s Motel
September 21, 2006	St. John�s	7:00 p.m.- 10:00 p.m.	The Battery Hotel & Suites
September 22, 2006	Mount Pearl	1:00 p.m.- 4:00 p.m.	Hotel Mount Pearl