Saskatchewan Announces $2 million for training and employment services in Northern Saskatchewan

Released on November 17, 2021

The Government of Saskatchewan will be working with Northern Career Quest Inc. and providing approximately $2 million in funding to support training and employment services to Indigenous job seekers residing in the northern part of the province. 

The funding will allow Northern Career Quest Inc. to facilitate industry-led training programs, employability supports and employment services to 400 Indigenous job seekers. The Indigenous and Métis residents from the Prince Albert Grand Council and Meadow Lake Tribal Council regions will have the opportunity to increase their qualification and in-demand skills in order to obtain and maintain employment.

"The Northern Career Quest Inc. programming will provide Indigenous participants with the necessary training, in-demand skills and support that will result in employment opportunities," Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "This funding will help us achieve the important goal of training and retaining a skilled workforce to match employer needs and help drive Saskatchewan's economic growth."

Northern Career Quest Inc. leverages its strong industry partnerships to meet the needs of both labour supply and demand in response to emerging needs of businesses, including in the hospitality, health, natural resource, and infrastructure sectors, among others. This $2 million program funding is for one year, and is funded through the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Transfer Agreements. 

"We are excited to work with the Government of Saskatchewan on this initiative," Northern Career Quest Inc. CEO Steve Innes said.  "This programming expands our previous mandate beyond just the resource sector, enabling us to work with Indigenous folks in more diversified areas of training and employment. We are looking forward to achieving and exceeding the employment targets for this project."

In the past five years, Northern Career Quest Inc. has worked with 120 industry partners, training over 1,200 Indigenous job seekers, with over 1,100 obtaining employment.

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