Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Mr. Speaker, in preparing the budget for the current fiscal year, the Financial Management Board approved the establishment of a one-time $6 million NWT workers' training fund. The objective of the fund is to support training and employment opportunities which can be managed by community governments through local sponsors. An important aspect of the NWT workers' training fund is that it is available to all communities in the territories. Funding is allocated to each community based on working age population and the number of people seeking work. Proposals must contain a job training component for each participant and must provide future access to training by upgrading skills or job opportunities.

Since the projects are designed at the local level, the fund enhances community-based decision-making and provides the kind of training and work experience that is considered important by the community.

Mr. Speaker, at this point, 525 people have received or are receiving support for training and work experience through this program. Training proposals for another 22 people are currently being processed by the Department of Education, Culture and Employment Programs. The total value of these proposals is almost $5.3 million. New proposals continue to be received by the department and we expect to spend a full $6 million by the end of the fiscal year.

Mr. Speaker, the NWT workers' training fund has been a valuable addition to the job training programs carried on throughout the Northwest Territories. It has been particularly important in helping to address the specific training needs of the communities. Mahsi.

---Applause