Creative Campaigns to Bridge Labour Market Supply and Demand

1. Creative Campaigns to Bridge Labour Market Supply and Demand Forum of Labour Market Ministers Labour Market Information Working Group 2007 National LMI Forum Winnipeg, Manitoba

2. Hydro Northern Training InitiativeWuskwatim & Keeyask Training Consortium Human Resource and Social Development Canada

3. Manitoba’s Major Energy Utility • Fifth largest energy utility in Canada based on capital assets • Assets within the top 50 companies in Canada • Revenues within the top 10 companies in Manitoba • Largest corporate employer in Manitoba (5,600) • Lowest electricity rates in North America.

4. Proposed Generating Stations and in-vicinity Communities • Keeyask Project • 620 megawatts • $3 billion (est) • Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation • 4,500 members • The only Cree Nation in the vicinity of the Wuskwatim Project • Tataskweyak Cree Nation • 2,600 members • The largest of four Cree Nations in the vicinity of the Keeyask Project (others at War Lake, York Landing and Fox Lake) • Wuskwatim Project • 200 megawatts • $1 billion (est)

5. Hydro Construction: Major Opportunities • $4.0 billion in construction • $2.0 billion contribution to national GDP • 700 direct/indirect jobs peak at Wuskwatim; 1,800 direct/indirect peak at Gull • Potential for 3rd project - Conawapa

6. Strategic Opportunities & Partnerships • “In Vicinity” Communities & Others • Tri-Partite Negotiations • Pre-Project Training Initiative • ASEP Proposal

7. WKTC Aboriginal Partners • Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation (NCN) • Tataskweyak Cree Nation (TCN) • Fox Lake Cree Nation • War Lake First Nation • York Factory First Nation • Manitoba Métis Federation (MMF) • Manitoba Keewatinook Ininew Okimowin (MKIO)

8. $60m Pre-Project TrainingFundingContributions Human Resources and Social Development Canada – ASEP $ 22M Western Economic Diversification $ 5M Manitoba Hydro $ 20 M Province of Manitoba – Advanced Education and Training $ 10M Indian and Northern Affairs Canada $ 3.26M

9. Pre-Project Training: Objectives • Prepare northern Aboriginal residents for employment on proposed generating stations and construction projects • Ensure residents are qualified to compete successfully for skilled construction jobs • Train 1,000+ northern Aboriginal participants • Place up to 800 northern Aboriginal residents in hydroelectric construction related jobs • Lever Hydro opportunities for long-term capacity building

10. Key Training Categories • Designated Trades • carpenters, electricians, ironworkers, plumbers/pipefitters, industrial mechanics • Non-designated Trades • heavy equipment operator, truck driver • Construction Supports • labourer, catering, security • Professional/ Management/ Technical • engineer, accountant, computers, engineers, surveyors

11. Wuskwatim & Keeyask Training Consortium • Arms Length Entity • Representative Board of Directors • Incorporated as non-profit July 2004 • Staff team to: • coordinate support Board processes • facilitate key initiative activities • promote & communicate Initiative • administer Contribution Agreements www.wktc.ca

12. WKTC Organizational Structure Board of Directors Project Director Executive Assistant Coordinating Committee Communications Coordinator Finance Officer Financial Monitor Stakeholders Advisory Group Aboriginal Partners Working Group Database Clerk ABORIGINAL LED STRATEGY

13. Coordinating Committee • Coordinated approach to training activities • Sharing of resources and ideas on how to maximize the impacts of annual and multi-year activities. • Identify & address barriers Meeting at Nisichawayasihk Cree Nation February, 2006

14. Aboriginal Partners Working Group • Work closely to achieve common objectives and maintain continuity. • Provide updates on key issues • Maximize resources and collaborate on training • Improved information sharing

15. Cornerstones of Training Initiative • Aboriginal Led • Retention Supports • Community-Based

16. Accomplishments To Date • $30m invested to date in Partner training plans • 1300 training participants • 240 training in non-designated trades • 84 active apprentices in designated trades • 9 accredited journeypersons • 100 training in construction supports • 285 participating in work experience • 40 participants hired in Hydro operations • New hires on Direct Negotiated Contracts

17. Capacity Building • Support for community staff infrastructure • Labour market assessment/advisory capacity • Community-based education & training facilities • New industry/education partnerships • Articulation agreements • $ staying in North region; northern Aboriginal communities Atoskiwim Training and Employment Centre

18. Initiative Strengths • Aboriginal led in design and delivery • Aboriginal governance model • Majority of dollars spent & training delivery in community/north • New industry/education partnership thru Aboriginal leadership • Developing physical and staff training capacity • Aligns with key objectives in Closing the Gap and Kelowna

19. Ongoing Challenges • Aboriginal governance & public accountability • Capacity challenges within Aboriginal partner communities • Engaging employers to provide work experience opportunities • Identifying capital projects for on-the-job work experience

20. Floodway Training Initiative Partnership: • Manitoba Floodway Authority • Employment Manitoba

21. Floodway Training Initiative (Cont’d) Purpose: • Develop a skilled and representative labour force to meet the needs of the Heavy Construction Sector in Manitoba

22. Floodway Training Initiative (Cont’d) Target Groups: • Aboriginals • Women • Members of Visible Minorities • Persons with Disabilities

23. Floodway Training Initiative (Cont’d) Training Programs: • Introduction to Heavy Construction • Skilled Labourer • Heavy Equipment Operator Gap Training

24. Floodway Training Initiative (Cont’d) 2006-07 • Heavy Equipment Gap Training for Aboriginal peoples • Introduction to Construction – Visible Minorities 2007-08 • Introduction to Construction - Women / Persons with Disabilities / Aboriginal Offenders • Heavy Equipment PLAR and Gap Training for Aboriginal peoples • Skilled Labourers

25. Job Referral Service • Links qualified job seekers to meet employers’ labour needs • Provides for preferential hiring

26. Job Referral Service Cont’d • Wuskwatim • Floodway Expansion • Keeyask and/or Conawapa

27. Floodway Job Referral ServicePreferential Criteria • Union-recommended workers • Aboriginal people, women, persons with disabilities and members of visible minorities • Workers at large

28. Wuskwatim Job Referral ServicePreferential Criteria • Northern Aboriginals living within Churchill/Burntwood/Nelson Rivers area • Union Northern Residents • Northern Aboriginals • Northern Manitobans • Manitoba Union Members • Manitobans

29. Wuskwatim Job Referral ServicePreferential Criteria Training/Apprentice positions for Wuskwatim Project

30. Job Referral Service

31. Job Referral ServiceDocuments • Notice and Consent • Voluntary Equity Declaration • Registration for Work • Employment History • Skills Profile for each occupation Supporting documents to confirm identity, social insurance number and education and skills information Job seekers must renew their registrations every six months.

32. Job Referral Service For information, job seekers can • Phone a 1-800 number • Visit the government of Manitoba web site People can register: • In person – Employment Center or designated registration agency • By mail or fax – forms can be mailed, faxed or downloaded from internet site and sent to Employment Center • Online (in the future)

33. Benefits of the Job Referral Service • Common language for skills profiles • Understanding of the dynamics of the job market • Information on the skills shortages to inform training initiatives • Knowledge on how to deliver a multi-channel service

34. Questions? THE FUTURE DEPENDS ON WHAT WE DO IN THE PRESENT…”GANDHI