Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Over the last seven years the Mine Training Society, which is a partnership between industry, Aboriginal and public governments, has been training Aboriginal Northerners so that they can obtain long-term, meaningful and well-paying jobs in the mine and mine services sector. The Mine Training Society was originally an initiative of the Government of the Northwest Territories. It started 15 years ago as an adhoc committee put together by the Minister of Education of the day, Charles Dent, along with the Chamber of Mines, Diavik Diamond Mines, Yellowknives Dene First Nation and Indian and Northern Affairs. Together they began the process of community-based training for Aboriginal Northerners, which led to the creation of the Mine Training Society.
In 2003 the Mine Training Society, with support of the Department of Education and Indian and Northern Affairs, developed the Northern Mineral and Industrial Skills Strategy. This strategy resulted in the Mine Training Society becoming one of the first of nine Aboriginal Skills and Employee Partnership, or ASEP, agreement holders with Human Resources and Skills Development in 2004.
The Mine Training Society has been working with ASEP since 2004. Since that time it has worked with its partners to train over 900 people, of which 600 have obtained employment in the mine and mine service sector. Using funds from ASEP in the amount of about $16.8 million, the Mine Training Society partners have invested an additional $18.6 million in support of training. This further partnership investment has been used to support the development of best practice programming like the Underground Miner Program as well as purchasing infrastructure support for Aurora College, such as the underground mine simulator that is housed at the Yellowknife Campus.
Mr. Speaker, organizations like the Mine Training Society are a necessary component in the economic development of the Northwest Territories. By focusing on the creation of a skilled Aboriginal workforce for the mine and mine service sector, the Mine Training Society is facilitating economic opportunities for residents in many of our small communities throughout the North. It is imperative that we see the continuance of this organization as a unique partnership of industry, Aboriginal governments and public government. It produces measureable and very tangible results for the North.
Mr. Speaker, later this afternoon I will be speaking to the motion before the Legislature regarding the Mine Training Society and the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program. Thank you, Mr. Speaker.
Thank you, Mr. Abernethy. The honourable Member for Weledeh, Mr. Bromley.
