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November 24, 2005
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
05-95
OTTAWA, ONTARIO - Belinda Stronach, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development and Minister responsible for Democratic Renewal, today announced that the Government of Canada will provide over $882,000 through the Sector Council Program, to support the development of Canada's skilled work force in international trade.
The Forum for International Trade Training (FITT) will receive this funding to develop skills in the international trade sector. Specifically, the funding will provide FITT with stable operating funds, allowing it to focus on responding to skills needs, representing the collective interests of industry partners, developing links with the educational system and being results-based.
FITT is Canada's centre for the development of training and certification programs in international trade. Since 1993, FITT has developed and maintained quality curricula focusing on international trade to help prepare businesses and individuals to successfully compete in world markets.
"Canada's future competitiveness is dependent upon having a highly skilled workforce and high performance workplaces," said Minister Stronach. "This funding will help ensure our continued success in the global economy."
"FITT sees this project as an opportunity to expand its scope and mandate by pursing broader human resources issues," said Caroline Tompkins, Executive Director of FITT. "It will support FITT's core activity: expanding partnerships between Canada's educational community and industry to address key human resources and skill development issues as they relate to international trade and small and medium-sized enterprises."
Sector councils successfully meet emerging skills requirements by addressing skills and labour shortages, and building essential skills in the workplace as a foundation for continuous learning. These organizations bring together business, labour and educational stakeholders in key industries to identify and address common human resources and skills issues, and to find solutions that benefit the sector. They are instrumental in making sure that workers already employed and those seeking employment are well prepared for the challenges of the rapidly evolving labour market.
There are currently 31 sector councils representing traditional industries (such as mining and textiles) and emerging industries (such as biotechnology and the environment). The sector council network now covers approximately 48 percent of the labour market. The Government of Canada is committed to strengthening and expanding the network of sector councils so that more Canadian workers benefit from them.
Funding for this initiative was provided for in the February 2005 federal Budget and is therefore built into the existing fiscal framework.
The projects have been reviewed to ensure their compliance with the Department's administration of its grant and contribution programs, and they are subject to review under the Financial Administration Act.
For details, see the attached backgrounder.
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For more information (media only):
Normand Bergeron
Special Advisor, Communications
Office of Minister Belinda Stronach
(819) 994-2482
BACKGROUNDER
Sector Council
Description of Project
Funding
Forum for International Trade Training (FITT)
Infrastructure - This project will provide FITT with stable operating funds, allowing it to focus on responding to skills needs, representing the collective interests of industry partners, developing links with the educational system and being results-based
$882,854
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