Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Training is essential if northerners are to learn the skills required to take advantage of many job opportunities in the construction industry. Last spring in Rankin Inlet, the Department of Government Services and Public Works, with the assistance of the Departments of Municipal and Community Affairs, Education, Arctic College and Maani Ulujuk School, organized a basic surveyor training course. The department knew that there was going to be some survey work for a large upcoming project, and that there were not enough local people trained in surveying.

An engineer from the regional office instructed the course, which ran for 18 nights from April to June. Eight long-term residents participated in the course. Two graduates are now working as surveyor helpers, for the next three years, on the Rankin Inlet mine tailings pond cleanup project.

Thank you, Mr. Speaker.