Executive Council
May 27, 2014

Provincial Government Removes Barriers for Women

Alderon’s Kami Mine Benefits Agreement to Advance Women Through Gender Equity and Diversity Planning

Earlier today, the Honourable Tom Marshall, Premier of Newfoundland and Labrador, announced the completion of the benefits agreement for the Kami Iron Ore Project in western Labrador. This agreement features an unprecedented Gender Equity and Diversity Plan, which signals the Provincial Government’s ongoing commitment to gender equity and diversity in the natural resources sector.

“With agreements such as this one, Newfoundland and Labrador has established itself as a leader in gender and diversity. Through these initiatives, we continue to work with industry to build a skilled and professional workforce ensuring qualified women, persons with disabilities, Aboriginal persons and visible minorities have equitable access to the many employment and business opportunities associated with the project.”
- The Honourable Joan Shea, Minister Responsible for the Status of Women

The plan outlines gender equity and diversity support through initiatives such as the establishment of a 40-space employee childcare centre and support for the advancement of female apprentices toward achieving journeyperson status. The plan further provides scholarship opportunities, the development of a mentoring program and commitment to use work-place environment surveys to identify diversity-related issues over the life of the project.

“We are pleased to see the province continuing to be a leader in Gender Equity and Diversity Planning, and applaud the strides taken to ensure women are represented fairly on such important projects.”
-Karen Walsh, Executive Director, Office to Advance Women Apprentices

Further information on the benefits agreement announced today, including the Gender Equity and Diversity Plan, can be found at //ow.ly/xjbAD

QUICK FACTS

• Alderon’s Gender Equity and Diversity Plan for the Kami Mine Limited Partnership includes several initiatives supporting the hiring of women and other under-represented groups.
• The Gender Equity and Diversity Plan includes a commitment to working toward overall employment targets for women that range from 17 per cent for the construction phase to 30 per cent for operations, with targets specific to skilled trades, and professional and technical occupational categories.
• A number of initiatives are designed to support supplier diversity and participation of women-owned businesses.
• According to the Office of Advance Women in Apprentices, the number of female apprentices (including pre-apprentices) has grown by 25 per cent each year for the past three years. As of March 2014, 819 female apprentices and 50 journeypersons in non-traditional skilled trades are registered.

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Media contacts:

Sara Norris Program, Policy and Communications Analyst Women’s Policy Office 709-729-6225 saranorris@gov.nl.ca

Karen Walsh Executive Director Office to Advance Women Apprentices 709-757-7434 kwalsh@womenapprentices.ca

2014 05 27                                     6:15 p.m.