Saskatchewan to create Manufacturing Centre of Excellence

The government of Saskatchewan will be creating 1,000 new training seats, as well as a new Manufacturing Centre of Excellence, as the next steps in the Saskatchewan Plan for Growth, according to the province’s Premier, Brad Wall.

Wall said a shortage of skilled labour is one of the challenges facing Saskatchewan businesses.

“In the coming year, we will work with educational institutions and employers to create 1,000 new training seats,” he said. “This includes another 300 new apprenticeship seats, bringing the total number of apprenticeship seats to 6,700 – an increase of 76 per cent since 2007.

“It also includes 700 new spots added to the Adult Basic Education (ABE) program as we work toward our Growth Plan goal of eliminating the wait list for this important program. This will bring the total number of ABE seats to 8,580 – an increase of 46 per cent since 2007.”

Wall also announced that the government will work with Saskatchewan’s manufacturing industry to create a Manufacturing Centre of Excellence in the province.

“Saskatchewan manufacturers play a key role in diversifying our resource-based economy,” he said. “This new Centre of Excellence will help to increase productivity, innovation and skills training for our manufacturing sector.

“One specific focus of the centre will be providing Saskatchewan’s First Nations and Métis people with the skills training needed for manufacturing jobs, while encouraging and assisting employers in hiring aboriginal workers.”

Wall said further details of both the 1,000 new training seats and the Manufacturing Centre of Excellence will be provided as part of the 2014-15 budget.