The Government of Canada, the Province of Manitoba, and the Manitoba Sector Training Network (MSTN) today announced they are working in partnership to establish a Sector Council Centre that will serve as a training and business networking facility for sector associations serving industry in Manitoba.
Funding of $100,000 from the Province of Manitoba and $970,000 from Western Economic Diversification Canada toward this initiative was announced today by the Honourable Andrew Swan, Manitoba Minister of Competitiveness, Training and Trade; and the Honourable Senator Terry Stratton, on behalf of the Honourable Rona Ambrose, President of the Queen's Privy Council for Canada, Minister of Intergovernmental Affairs and Minister of Western Economic Diversification.
"It is important we have a highly skilled, adaptable workforce so Manitoba's many industries can grow and expand," said Minister Swan. "Manitoba shares MSTN's vision to strengthen the skills of our provincial workforce while promoting productivity and economic development. The province will continue to work with employers, government, educational institutions and employees to increase job opportunities for all Manitobans."
"Our Government is pleased to be part of this collaborative initiative which will increase knowledge-driven economic activities for a large portion of Manitoba's traditional and emerging industries," said Senator Stratton. "This centre will improve the capacity of businesses to remain competitive in today's economic landscape through leading edge training programs."
The Manitoba Sector Training Network (MSTN) will focus, over the next year and a half, on the creation of a Council Service Centre that will house the operations of multiple sector organizations and a state-of-the-art training facility. On-site organizations will have access to the Centre while members in more remote communities throughout the province will have "virtual" access through the use of teleconferencing technology and the development of a relationship with the Canada Manitoba Business Service Centre network.
A needs assessment to determine the long-term requirements of sector councils interested in co-locating at the Centre and an inventory of existing training materials and courses currently available for industry in Manitoba will also be undertaken as part of this project.
The Sector Council Centre will not only serve as a hub to encourage collaborative alliances, but also improve skills development and retention, thus providing a competitive advantage to local business.
"The MSTN Sector Council Centre and Training Facility will create synergies between sectors and cross sectoral initiatives. Serving as a multipurpose and multifunctional facility, this one-stop-shop will house the shared resources and intelligence of MSTN's 16 industry associations," said Beverlie Stuart, Chair, Manitoba Sector Training Network. "Hubbed around a state-of-the-art training facility, the centre will provide cost saving opportunities to industry associations. These savings will, in turn, facilitate innovative industry-based training programs designed to increase productivity and global competitiveness."
The Manitoba Sector Training Network (MSTN), a non-profit organization, is a formalized group of 16 industry sector associations representing over 198,000 Manitoba workers and over 500 Manitoba employers. The MSTN aims to encourage cooperation between sectors, to strengthen the skills of our Manitoba workforce, and to promote productivity and economic development through innovative collaborative projects.
For additional information, contact:
Luisa Matheson
Communications Officer
Western Economic Diversification Canada
Winnipeg, Manitoba
(204) 983-0280
Joe Czech
Communications Coordinator
Communication Services Manitoba
Telephone: (204) 945-6778
Province of Manitoba
