The Canadian Northern Economic Development Agency (CanNor) is investing $450,000 to improve a training program in the Tlicho Region of the Northwest Territories. The funding will contribute to purchasing a Mobile Crusher for the Crusher Operator Training Program offered by the Tlicho Learning and Development Centre (TLDC). The program, which was previously offered in Behchoko, will become mobile and offered in all four Tlicho communities. The program will provide training for up to 60 people over the next three years.
The crushed material generated during the training program will be used to supply a variety of local infrastructure projects in the regions. The new equipment will help to significantly reduce overall community infrastructure costs for activities such as construction, road building and maintenance, drainage and other local projects. As well as supporting community infrastructure requirements, this project could lead to job and business opportunities in the mining sector resource development advances in the area.
The purchase of a mobile crusher will result in the production and stockpiling of locally produced crushed material in all Tlicho communities. This will significantly reduce the cost of crushed materials that are currently produced in Yellowknife and shipped by winter road, as well as providing communities with access to crushed materials as needed.
Graduates of the Crusher Operator Training Program are eligible to apply for a range of positions including:
- operating construction equipment such as bulldozers, graders or backhoes to build and maintain passages, ramps and haulage ways;
- assisting drillers to setup and operatevarious drills and other mining machinery;
- supplying and maintaining backfill distribution of sand, rock or other materials; and
- maintaining supply storage areas and maintaining equipment and supplies such as maintenance parts, special fluids, drill bits, fire extinguishers, lamps and batteries.
This investment is made possible through CanNor's Community Economic Opportunities Program (CEOP). CEOP is one of several economic development programs within CanNor. CanNor is responsible for coordinating and delivering Canada's economic development across the North, and for related policy development, research and advocacy.
