YELLOWKNIFE (July 17, 2014) – In Charlottetown, PEI last week, Minister of Education, Culture and Employment Jackson Lafferty and a delegation of Northwest Territories (NWT) labour market and education representatives attended the national Skills for the Future symposium to discuss the evolving needs of Canada’s labour markets.

At the symposium, Minister Lafferty agreed to join efforts with education and labour market ministers of Canada’s 13 provinces and territories to ensure that provincial and territorial skills training and education systems continue to innovate and further strengthen Canada’s economic competitiveness.

“This symposium was successful because it was an opportunity to bring delegates together from across the country representing education, training and business interests to join us in our discussions and share their experiences,” said Minister Lafferty. “We were fortunate to have eight NWT delegates accompany me and I thank them for their time and participation. Through this experience, these delegates will bring home information highlighting key challenges in the labour market relevant to the North and their organizations, and I hope this will lay a foundation for collaborative partnerships that will benefit our residents in their training and skills development.”

The provinces and territories are committed to strong education and training systems that respond effectively to the labour market conditions of each region. The ministers released a joint declaration announcing three principles that will form the basis of future action:

• Education and training must empower Canadians to acquire the skills they need for success in the job market in a flexible and dynamic environment.
• Partnerships and alignment with business, labour, education and training providers are key to ensuring synergy between education and skills training systems and Canada’s labour markets.
• Access to accurate, relevant, and timely labour market and education data is essential to support Canadians to make smart career choices, as well as enable government and business to make evidence-based decisions in planning for the future.

Provincial and territorial education and labour market ministers will report back to Canada’s Premiers in advance of their meeting in August, and will recommend that provinces and territories reconvene to ensure progress on the three principles and determine next steps.

The Department of Education, Culture and Employment is currently reviewing postsecondary education and skills training systems, programs and supports with the goals of improving employment success for Northern residents, closing skills gaps for in-demand NWT jobs, and more effectively responding to employer needs.

“The NWT is experiencing unprecedented opportunities with employment and economic growth,” stated Minister Lafferty. “We want NWT residents to be first in line for those opportunities and, through our education and skills training initiatives, we hope to see more Northerners in fulfilling careers, leading healthy productive lives.”

For more information on the Skills for the Future symposium, visit www.skillsforthefuture.ca.

For more information:

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