Federal and Provincial Governments
Invest in College of the North Atlantic’s Labrador Campuses

The energy and mining industries of Newfoundland and Labrador are receiving a boost today with a combined $612,765 investment from the Governments of Canada and Newfoundland and Labrador. The investment will help the Labrador campuses of College of the North Atlantic acquire needed and specialized equipment to support two technician training programs that are in high demand by the industry.

Senator Fabian Manning and the Honourable Susan Sullivan, Minister of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development, were in Labrador City today to announce the investment. Senator Manning made the announcement on behalf of the Honourable Keith Ashfield, Minister of National Revenue, Minister of the Atlantic Canada Opportunities Agency (ACOA) and Minister for the Atlantic Gateway.

“The Government of Canada is working to create and sustain jobs for Canadians in all regions of the country,” said Senator Manning. “Our investment in College of the North Atlantic will help ensure that Newfoundlanders and Labradorians have access to training and education that provides the skills and knowledge needed to meet changing industry demands and ensure future economic growth.”

“Post-secondary institutions such as College of the North Atlantic are critical players in economic and workforce development activities,” said Minister Sullivan. “Whether it is skills development, strengthening the province’s workforce, or attracting students to a community, College of the North Atlantic creates direct and indirect employment opportunities for the region and the province.”

College of the North Atlantic is receiving funding to assist it in the purchase of specialty mining simulation equipment to enhance its mining technician program at its Labrador West campus in Labrador City. The college will acquire highly specialized truck and equipment simulators for use in training students to become operators in the mining industry.

Funding for the power line technician program will help the college purchase equipment that is required to establish this popular program at its Happy Valley-Goose Bay campus. The high demand for the program is being driven by the industry’s need for skilled recruits.

“Through this support the college will be in a position to further enhance our classroom simulation equipment and, in addition, expand on a program offering that has seen much success at another of our campus locations,” said Bruce Hollett, President of College of the North Atlantic. “We have always had strong relationships with the Provincial Government and ACOA . Both parties realize the importance of providing the best in educational infrastructure in order to produce a workforce that will meet the needs of industries throughout Newfoundland and Labrador and Canada.”

The total Government of Canada investment of $361,297 (Mining Technician Program: $218,752 and Power Line Technician Program: $142,545) is provided through ACOA’s Innovative Communities Fund (ICF) which focuses on investments that lead to long-term employment and economic capacity building.

The Government of Newfoundland and Labrador investment, totalling $251,468, (Mining Technician Program: $112,718 and Power Line Technician Program: $138,750) is provided through the Department of Innovation, Trade and Rural Development’s Regional/Sectoral Diversification Fund.

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2011 02 22             11:30 a.m.