For Release
November 29, 2007
Edmonton, Alberta — The Government of Canada,
through Western Economic Diversification Canada, will invest an additional
$1.1 million towards the expansion of Northern Alberta Institute of Technology's
(NAIT) apprenticeship training capacity.
The Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen’s Privy Council
for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western
Economic Diversification made the announcement today.
The new funding will be directed towards the purchase and installation
of state-of-the-art equipment for training centres that are part of the
NAIT Centre for Apprenticeship Technologies (NCAT) expansion. The equipment
will offer more technical, leading edge and innovative apprenticeship
training and enable students to gain experience using technology that
is currently used in the workforce.
“The Government of Canada recognizes NAIT’s vital role training
the highly skilled trades people who help drive Western Canada’s
economic growth and prosperity,” said Minister Ambrose. “This
additional investment of $1.1 million will allow western Canadian businesses
to access skilled workers who are critical to increasing productivity
and helping firms become even more competitive.”
NAIT is expanding its capacity to provide apprenticeship training in
response to increased industry demand for skilled trades people prompted
by Alberta’s growing economy and growth in oil sands development.
The Institute is the largest apprenticeship trainer in Canada, providing
training to 50 per cent of trades people in Alberta and 17 per cent nationally.
NAIT also delivers 36 different apprenticeship programs and is the sole
provider in Alberta for 15 of these trades. In 2007-2008, more than 15,000
students enrolled in apprenticeship programs at NAIT.
For additional information, contact:
Donna Kinley
Manager, Communications
Western Economic Diversification Canada
(780) 495-6892
WD Toll-Free Number:
1 888 338-WEST (9378)
Backgrounder
Western Economic Diversification Canada (WD)
Western Economic Diversification Canada works in partnership with
the provinces, industry associations and communities to stimulate and
diversify Western Canada’s economy, as well as to represent the
interests of the West in national economic policy.
WD is announcing an investment of $1,094,901 to support the expansion
of NAIT’s apprenticeship training capacity.
WD’s investment, made through its Western Diversification Program
(WDP), supports the department’s priority on facilitating innovation,
promoting a competitive and expanded business sector, and fostering
community economic development.
The underlying objective of the WDP is to create a stronger West
and a stronger Canada. Several guiding principles are used to help assess
how initiatives contribute to this objective, including:
increased economic activity that improves the viability, prosperity,
and standard of living for individuals and communities across Western
Canada;
increased economic research in the areas of innovation, entrepreneurship
and community economic development to provide a sound base for economic
diversification in areas of importance to Western Canada.
Other elements that are considered when determining the relative
merit of proposals include: the measurable impact on the western Canadian
economy, viability and sustainability, long-term benefits, and the participation
of other stakeholders.
