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Education
February 19, 2008

Appointments Made to Industry Coordinating Committee

To ensure the successful implementation of the Skills Task Force report, All the Skills to Succeed, the Provincial Government has established an Industry Co-ordinating Committee (ICC). Eleven individuals have been appointed representing business, labour, industry, education, the Provincial Government and non-governmental agencies.

"The ICC is charged with building on the work of the Skills Task Force," said the Honourable Joan Burke, Minister of Education. "This province is looking at the development of major projects such as Hebron and the Lower Churchill which will require thousands of skilled workers. In fact, projected employment at the peak of these projects will reach 9,000. We are making a tremendous commitment, through substantial investments, to make sure the people of our province can access relevant training and take full advantage of the opportunities ahead. The ICC will be an important element of this effort."

The Skills Task Force was established in March 2006 with a mandate to identify needs in the workforce, look at the ability to meet those needs, and identify what must be done to fill current and anticipated shortages in skilled labour. All the Skills to Succeed, released in May 2007, included 50 recommendations for government, business, industry, labour, and education. The report stressed the need for a co-ordinated response to labour market needs.

The Provincial Government has been investing heavily in recent years to address challenges associated with the skilled trades sector. Over the past two years alone, the Williams Government has allocated $43.6 million in the areas of apprenticeship, science and technology, programming, training and infrastructure. The funding has also contributed to the implementation of some recommendations of the Skills Task Force report, such as increasing the number of apprentices hired across government and increasing the number of females entering the skilled trades.

"Each member of the Industry Co-ordinating Committee was also a member of the task force. They have an in-depth knowledge of what the task force heard, and what was recommended," said Minister Burke. "As such, they will be better able to co-ordinate an action plan and follow through with implementation. They will also explore additional measures to make sure we are not overlooking any opportunity to effectively build our labour market. I appreciate the work each of them has already done, and thank them for agreeing to continue to oversee this important task."

The following individuals have been appointed to the ICC:

Provincial Government

Bob Ridgley - MHA, St. John�s North, chair of the ICC

Rachelle Cochrane - Department of Education

Business

Bob Marshall � Vale Inco, Newfoundland and Labrador Ltd.

Heather Bruce-Veitch - Iron Ore Company of Canada

Labour

Gus Doyle - United Brotherhood of Carpenters and Joiners

Margie Hancock - Public Service Alliance of Canada

Post-secondary Institutions

Corrine Dunne - College of the North Atlantic

Kay LeMessurier - CompuCollege

Non-Governmental Agencies

Deborah Armstrong - Regional Council, Rural Secretariat

Anne Marie Anonsen � Women in Resource Development Committee

Student Representation

Katherine Giroux-Bougard - Canadian Federation of Students

"As chair of the Industry Coordinating Committee, I look forward to building on the great work of the Skills Task Force," said Bob Ridgley, ICC chair.  "I am especially pleased to see that the report has not simply been put on a shelf, but that the Provincial Government is moving forward with implementation and action."

Significant progress is being made to ensure educational institutions are offering relevant programming that is responsive to industry needs. The Futures in Skilled Trades and Technology program for high schools, new programs, increased capacity and a shop modernization initiative at College of the North Atlantic, and the creation of the School of Ocean Technology at the Marine Institute are just some specific examples of how the education system is growing to reflect the needs of the labour market.

"To effectively continue to expand will require a full partnership between business, labour, industry and education," said Minister Burke. "The ICC will bring these groups together with the ultimate goal of strengthening our labour market. We know that Newfoundland and Labrador is a place where people want to live and work and we will continue to work tirelessly to create real jobs and real opportunities for a sustained economy in the years to come".

-30-

Media contact:
Jacquelyn Howard
Director of Communications
Department of Education
709-729-0048, 689-2624
jacquelynhoward@gov.nl.ca

2008 02 19                                                    9:55 a.m.


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