Labour Market Development Council to advise government

Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment, today introduced members of government�s newly formed Labour Market Development Council.

Creation of the Labour Market Development Council (LMDC) comes out of the Jobs and Growth Consultations that took place across the province last fall. Presenters from nearly every sector and community urged government to look at ways to ensure people were being well prepared for existing and future employment in the province.

"We have an excellent council, with a membership that brings to the table a broad range of expertise on labour market issues," said Minister Bettney. "Though they may have different interests and perspectives they all share a strong commitment to helping us find innovative ways to resolve these issues."

The LMDC includes representatives from government, business, labour, education and social sectors. They will recommend ways that public and post-secondary institutions can equip people with the skills necessary to succeed in the rapidly changing global economy.

The council will also provide policy advice, act as a forum for the exchange of information, identify key issues and challenges and serve as an advisory board in the formulation of a labour market development strategy for the province.

"Exciting things are happening in Newfoundland and Labrador," said Minister Bettney. "Our economy is very different from what it was 10 years ago. It is growing at a rapid pace, creating a strong demand for flexible, skilled and knowledgeable employees. It is essential that we have a workforce with the right mix of knowledge, skills and abilities to capitalize on these emerging opportunities."

The council will report to government through a committee of ministers, chaired by Julie Bettney, who is also lead minister for the Strategic Social Plan.

"We are all looking forward to working together, to take part in a networking process that creates links between all sectors to help further economic and social development," said Dr. Barbara Barter, chair of the Labour Market Development Council. "If we can do this I believe we can make a significant contribution to the people of Newfoundland and Labrador."

The first official meeting of the Labour Market Development Council will take place today.

Media contact: Marcia Porter, Communications, (709) 729-4062

BACKGROUNDER
Labour Market Development Council

• Creation of a Labour Market Development Council was announced in the Speech from the Throne to ensure that our education system responds to the needs of our people and the economy.

• The council�s formation comes from last year�s Jobs and Growth Consultations, where stakeholders urged government to focus on labour market supply and demand.

• The 13 members of the council include representatives from labour, education, industry and social sectors.

• The council will advise government in the development of policy that deals with labour market issues, primarily ensuring the development of the province�s human resource base coincides with labour market demand.

• The council will also act as a forum for dialogue, collaboration and coordination at a strategic level and will advise government during the formation of a Labour Market Strategy. Development of a Labour Market Strategy is a major commitment in the Government of Newfoundland and Labrador�s Strategic Social Plan.

• The council will report to government through an ad-hoc committee of ministers, chaired by Julie Bettney, Minister of Human Resources and Employment.

Dr. Barbara Barter (CHAIR)

Barbara Barter is a resident of Burgeo, Newfoundland, where she retired after 31 years as a teacher, five of which were also as principal of St. John�s Central High. She holds a doctorate degree in education from the University of Toronto and teaches sessional courses at the University of Victoria. She is certified as a mediator by the law firm of Stitt Feld Handy Houston in Toronto and the University of Windsor, Ontario.

In her volunteer time, Dr. Barter is deputy mayor of the Town of Burgeo, chairs an information and communication technology committee for the local broadcasting system, is chair of the Board of directors for the Burgeo Community Education and Technology Centre, and is the choral director for the Flames of the Faithful at St. John the Evangelist Church in Burgeo. She is also a member of the Board of Trustees for Health and Community Services Western where she serves on various sub-committees. She is married to husband, Gerald and they have one son, Clinton, who resides in Ontario.

Michael Barrett

Michael Barrett holds a masters degree in administration from the University of New Brunswick and bachelor of education and bachelor of arts (honours) from Memorial University of Newfoundland. Mr. Barrett has 25 years of educational and administrative experience. He has worked as district superintendent for the Integrated School Board for the Strait of Belle Isle, curriculum and program coordinator for Newfoundland high schools and worked as Principal for various high schools and junior high schools in the province. He is currently vice-president of Academy Canada, a position he has held since 1991.

Mr. Barrett presently serves as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Association of Career Colleges (NLACC) and for the last four years has represented Newfoundland as a national commissioner for the Canadian Education and Training Commission (CETAC). Most recently he has worked with Academy Canada and the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA) to create educational joint ventures in China and Trinidad.

Allison North

Allison North, a native of St. John�s, is the Newfoundland and Labrador chairperson of the Canadian Federation of Students. Ms. North was first elected to this position in March 1999., when she was in her final year of studies at the College of the North Atlantic. She is currently fulfilling her second term as provincial chairperson of the federation, an organization which represents more than 25,000 students at all public post-secondary institutions in Newfoundland and Labrador, and a further 400,000 students at 60 public colleges and universities across Canada.

Elaine Price

Elected as president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour in November 1994, Elaine Price is the first woman to hold this distinction.

Ms. Price is a regional vice-president of the Canadian Labour Congress. She sits on the board of governors of the Labour College of Canada and she is on the board of directors of the Canadian Labour Business Centre.

Before becoming president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Federation of Labour, Ms. Price was an employee relations officer for the Newfoundland Association of Public Employees (NAPE) where she was involved in grievance arbitration and contract negotiations for both private and public sector workers. Prior to her employment with NAPE, Ms. Price worked with the government of Newfoundland and Labrador for 15 years, first as a youth specialist and later as a regional development specialist.

Pamela Walsh

On October 1, 1999, Pamela Walsh became president of the College of the North Atlantic, Newfoundland and Labrador public post-secondary educational and skills training institution.

She returns to the college system after two challenging and productive years as assistant deputy minister (Advanced Studies) with the province�s Department of Education.

Pamela Walsh�s attainment of the position of president comes after two decades of work dedicated to education in this province. She joined the now assimilated Eastern College in Clarenville in 1991 as a faculty member. Tenures as college coordinator, director of continuing education and director of programs (academic) prepared her to assume the top administrative position in one of the largest colleges in Canada. The College of the North Atlantic, formed from the amalgamation of five regional colleges in 1996, has approximately 9,000 full time equivalent students and 1,300 staff including faculty.

Ms. Walsh came to the provincial college system from the secondary school system where she taught sciences in high schools in Labrador City, Port au Port, Corner Brook and Conception Bay South.

Under her leadership, the College of the North Atlantic will continue to honour its commitment to deliver quality programs and a comprehensive range of student services. It is also her position that the college will become increasingly more responsive to workplace training needs through strengthened linkages with industry and the business community.

Dr. Evan Simpson

Dr. Evan Simpson is vice-president (academic) and pro vice-chancellor of Memorial University of Newfoundland. He is by trade a professor of philosophy and holds that rank at Memorial. Before coming to Memorial he was the dean of humanities at McMaster University, a position held from 1991-1998. In his present administrative role with Memorial he has responsibility for identifying employment needs within academic disciplines and their professional support staff. Labour market issues across a range of technical expertise central to a knowledge economy are among his constant concerns.

Marilyn Tucker

Marilyn Tucker is the president of the Newfoundland and Labrador Employers� Council, a not-for-profit organization that represents the collective interests of employers and employer associations in all regions of the province in matters related to employment.

Before joining the employers� council she was vice president of the Enterprise Network Inc.; development coordinator with the Humber Valley Development Association; training manager with Visiting Home Support Services; and cost accountant with Marystown Shipyard Limited. Ms. Tucker also served as a member of the Premiers� Committee for Small Renewable Resource Development in Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.

Ms. Tucker holds a bachelor of commerce and studied accounting through the Society of Management Accountants.

Dr. Phil Warren

Dr. Philip Warren was born in New Perlican, Trinity Bay. In 1962 he graduated with a doctorate from the University of Alberta. Professionally, Dr. Warren worked as a school principal before taking positions as a university professor at the University of Calgary and at Memorial University of Newfoundland and Labrador.

From 1964 - 1969 Dr. Warren served as chairperson of the Royal Commission on Education and Youth and during this time produced several reports on education. From 1983-1988 he served on the Canadian Radio and Television Commission.

He was elected as Member of the House of Assembly for St. John�s North in 1989 and appointed Minister of Education. He retired from political life in 1993.

Since his retirement Dr. Warren has served as chairperson for the Pippy Park Commission (1994-2000) and the Chairperson of the Beothuk Institute (1997-2000). Currently Dr. Warren is the chairperson of the Premier�s Council on Social Policy and a member of the Premier�s Advisory Council on the Economy and Technology.

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