[Microphone turned off) …and I understand the needs assessment is completed.
I want to ask the Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, what are the priorities and what plans are there to implement the priorities within the Sahtu needs assessment that he found over the past year? Thank you.
Thank you, Mr. Yakeleya. The Minister of Education, Culture and Employment, Mr. Lafferty.
Mahsi, Mr. Speaker. Yes, the needs assessment has been completed and there’s been a lot of work by the stakeholders providing input into the workforce environment that will be required in the Sahtu region.
At the same time, there are various stakeholders like industry and representatives of the college. That is some of the work that now we need to figure out, okay, how can we move forward developing action plans towards producing those talented individuals from the community perspective. Mahsi.
Certainly the Sahtu is looking for partnerships and is interested in the how’s and the action plan. So I’m asking the Minister, what is the department doing to enhance the findings of life skills? It was a top priority in the needs assessment and job readiness in the Sahtu.
What is the Minister doing to look at some of these priorities as indicated by the needs assessment in telling us this is what’s needed? What is he doing?
Mahsi. When the Member first introduced what’s required at the community level, that’s been identified, like heavy equipment operators. There are rock crushers, blasters, project management and various other trade positions as well. We are currently dealing with the college on the best way to deliver that at the regional level, even at the college campuses.
Those are just some of the areas that we are currently discussing, and based on that, we will be developing an action plan to deal with the implementation of the first year, second year, third year phased approach. Mahsi.
Thank you. The Minister has indicated that they’re developing and they’re going to be looking at ways they can implement these programs. I would like to ask the Minister for some time frames, knowing the limited time we have left in the 17th. So I’ll ask that question. The employers need people to get valid drivers’ licences. It’s something that’s been repeated in the needs assessment.
Will the department consider working with the Department of Transportation to assist people in the remote communities to go get drivers’ licences and other qualified drivers’ training programs?
Mahsi. Not only the Sahtu region but we’ve done that in other regions, as well, other communities where there’s a high demand of individuals that need to retain or even go after a driver’s licence, whether it be a Class 5, Class 3, Class 2, or Class 1. There is interest in the communities. Obviously, there will be a proposal submitted to DOT along with ourselves, Education, Culture and Employment, because we do have some funds to offset the costs, as well, working with the stakeholders, the steering committee that has been established. So, yes, I will be working very closely with the Department of Transportation when a need arises pertaining to drivers’ licences. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Final, short supplementary, Mr. Yakeleya.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker. We have an urgent and emergent need for drivers’ licences in the Sahtu. It is one of those issues right now facing us, but I will do that another time.
I want to ask the department what they are doing to make aware the career opportunities in the resource sector.
What type of career counselling is happening at the college, happening at the schools, happening in the communities? What is the department doing?
I’m glad the Member is raising the profile because it is very important to have a career development officer in the communities. They are our partners as well. They are there to make some community awareness of where individuals should be aspiring, whether it be very successful entrepreneurs, in the technician area, or other professional fields in their community. Those are the individuals that we will continue working with, and other support groups. The stakeholders are very key and also very interested and part of the solution as well. Those are some of the stakeholders that we will continue to work with in developing these action tools for the communities of the Sahtu region. Mahsi.
Thank you, Mr. Lafferty. Member for Yellowknife Centre, Mr. Hawkins.
