Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Good afternoon. Mr. Speaker, despite recent downturns, the mining industry holds a good deal of potential for training and employing northerners. To help identify training opportunities for northerners, I established the Mine Training Committee late last year. The committee, a consortium of aboriginal leaders and industry representatives, has launched the first of a series of training initiatives.

Forty northerners are currently enrolled in the Mine Trades Access Program. The program includes a mixed curriculum of academic upgrading, personal life skills management and trades-related training that will prepare students for apprenticeships in a mining trade.

The training program began last October at the Aurora College campuses in Inuvik, Yellowknife and Fort Smith. Students have been selected from Inuvik, Rae, Wha Ti, Yellowknife, Detah, Ndilo, Hay River, Fort Smith and Lutselk'e.

This project is a collaborative effort between Aurora College and the mine training committee. It clearly demonstrates that industry and aboriginal leaders are taking a lead role in training northerners for careers in mining. I congratulate all partners on their work to make this initiative a success. Thank you.

--Applause