Government of Saskatchewan Western Red Lilies
Executive Council - Media Services
Legislative Building - Regina, Canada S4S 0B3 - (306) 787-6281

News Release


November 15, 2006

Advanced Education and Employment - 817

$52.6 MILLION INVESTMENT PROVIDES ACCESS TO TRAINING FOR 2,500 MORE LEARNERS

Premier Lorne Calvert today announced $52.6 million for the education and
training of Saskatchewan's young people, a major new commitment addressing the
tightening labour market as the province's economy continues to grow.

"The Government of Saskatchewan is delivering on its promise to expand
training opportunities to meet the demands of our province's vibrant and
growing industries and businesses," Calvert said. "This investment helps
Saskatchewan families today, providing our province's young people with an
even brighter future and more opportunities to learn, grow and prosper right
here at home."

The investment consists of the following components:

• $13.3 million to create an additional 2,584 training opportunites in the
areas of health education, trades and skills and basic education;

• $4.7 million for training equipment;

• $2 million to renovate and modernize training facilities;

• $2 million for northern development;

• $0.3 million this year to establish the Saskatchewan Labour Market
Commission; and

• $30.3 million for post-secondary education capital, including $2.8 million
for the purchase of two mobile training labs to take training on the road to
students and industry.

New training opportunities will be located at SIAST, the Saskatchewan Indian
Institute of Technologies, Dumont Technical Institute and regional colleges
across the province, with an emphasis on providing training to First Nations
and Mιtis students for participation in Saskatchewan's growing labour market.

"Today's $52.6 million investment builds on our April 2006 commitment of $15.5
million and is the greatest total investment in training in the province's
history," Advanced Education and Employment Minister Pat Atkinson said. "More
importantly, the additional 2,500 training opportunities created today provide
Saskatchewan learners with more than 5,000 new opportunities this fiscal
year."

Further details on the Province's post-secondary capital investments will be
announced at a later date.

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For More Information, Contact:
Christopher Jones-Bonk
Advanced Education and Employment
Regina
Phone: 306-798-3106
Email: cjonesbonk@sasked.gov.sk.ca


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