COLLEGE AND UNION PARTNER WITH PROVINCE

The Carlton Trail Regional College, the Saskatchewan Government and General Employees Union (SGEU) Local 4039-1 and the Government of Saskatchewan became partners today to promote a representative workforce.

Formed under the province's Aboriginal Employment Development Program (AEDP), this partnership agreement will have a significant impact on Aboriginal participation in the workforce.

"This partnership will mean real opportunities for Aboriginal students," Aboriginal Affairs Minister Maynard Sonntag said. "More training institutions and unions are stepping up to the plate to support a representative workforce strategy. I am proud to say that as a result of the Aboriginal Employment Development Program more than 1,700 Aboriginal people have been hired and more than 7,000 employees have received cultural awareness education."

"Carlton Trail Regional College is celebrating its 30th anniversary this year – with the anniversary slogan 'Connecting Learners for 30 Years'. By participating in the Aboriginal Employment Development Program, we are affirming our commitment to connect communities," Carlton Trail Regional College Board Chair Daryl Gebauer said. "We see the goals of the AEDP as consistent with our own values – values such as fairness and equity, consistency of approach, mutual respect and dignity, open communications and trust."

"Our local looks forward to this opportunity to work in partnership with the AEDP," SGEU Local 4039-1 Chair Kathy Mahussier said. "We believe that this partnership agreement will help create a workplace environment where qualified Aboriginal persons can fully participate, and contribute to the future of our educational institutions and our province."

The Carlton Trail Regional College offers a wide range of programming, including non-credit community and individual development courses, computer consulting, adult basic education, literacy, and credit vocational and technical programs. It delivers programs to more than 5,500 students in over 50 communities in east-central Saskatchewan. SGEU has a membership of 20,000, making it the largest union in Saskatchewan.

The Saskatchewan government, through the Aboriginal Employment Development Program, strives to build a representative workforce in Saskatchewan where Aboriginal people compete for jobs based on their skills and qualifications, and where they are represented at all occupation levels in proportion to their population numbers in the province.

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For More Information, Contact:

Anna Arneson Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs Regina Phone: (306) 787-8008