YELLOWKNIFE (September 26, 2014) – Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty met with stakeholders from across the Northwest Territories (NWT) this week to discuss labour market needs and new initiatives.

Aboriginal governments and organizations, mining and exploration, non-governmental organizations and industry representatives met to hear about the new Canada Job Fund and Labour Market Development Agreements (LMDA) and to discuss labour market needs throughout the NWT.

“The discussions were extremely productive in terms of understanding the NWT’s labour market needs and planning for the future,” said Minister Lafferty. “We have numerous initiatives and opportunities under our current Labour Market Development Agreement which will help address some of our labour market needs, but in order to be truly effective, we must listen to our labour market partners.”

The meeting opened a discussion that focused on improving the LMDA to better meet the needs of the labour market in the light of the recently signed Canada Job Fund Agreement and the upcoming expiration of the LMDA on March 31, 2015.

The current LMDA, signed in 2011, includes funding for benefits like building essential skills; wage subsidies; self-employment; building and learning; and three territorial measures: employment assistance services, labour market partnerships and research and innovation.

For more information visit Career and Employment on the ECE website.

Media inquiries:

Jacqueline McKinnon
Manager
Communications and Public Affairs
Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Tel: (867) 920-6222
Email: jacqueline_mckinnon@gov.nt.ca