Advanced Education and Skills
March 24, 2015

The following statement was given today in the House of Assembly by the Honourable Clyde Jackman, Minister of Advanced Education and Skills:

Young Newfoundlanders and Labradorians Encouraged to SWITCH ON YOUR LIFE

Mr. Speaker, I rise today in this Honourable House to highlight a new innovative education and awareness initiative developed by Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Newfoundland Power in partnership with our government.

This initiative and its trademark slogan SWITCH ON YOUR LIFE was launched last Wednesday at Holy Spirit High School in Conception Bay South. The Parliamentary Secretary to the Minister of Education and Early Childhood Development attended the launch and was joined by students, teachers, representatives from post-secondary institutions, and employees of Newfoundland and Labrador Hydro and Newfoundland Power.

Mr. Speaker, the Provincial Government has contributed more than $389,000 over three years to this project. Funding is provided by my department through the Labour Market Partnerships Program of the Canada-Newfoundland and Labrador Labour Market Development Agreement.

The overall goal of the initiative is to educate young professionals in our province about the many interesting and diverse career opportunities available in the electricity industry in Newfoundland and Labrador. The website - www.electricityindustrynl.ca � is a valuable information tool that provides details about the electricity industry, details on the educational requirements for particular careers, and the benefits of working in this industry. Through the development of marketing and communications tools targeted primarily at youth, as well as curriculum that will be offered in some high schools throughout the province, we hope to encourage more young men and women to learn about the industry and explore the employment opportunities available in this particular sector.

Mr. Speaker, I encourage everyone to visit the website to learn more about this exciting and worthwhile initiative. Educating our young people on the variety of career paths and opportunities available to them here in Newfoundland and Labrador will help to encourage more young people to stay in this province to study, work and raise their families.

Thank you.

2015 03 24                              1:50 p.m.