Thank you, Mr. Chairman. The Department has developed an oil and gas human resource plan, and there is an opportunity there for many people to hold long-term jobs. The plan is a systematic plan that will help ensure maximum employment and training opportunities are there for Northerners.
The Department of Resources, Wildlife and Economic Development is leading an inter-departmental approach to the oil and gas development here in the Northwest Territories. The work of the project team is focused in eight areas; research, analysis, communication, project infrastructure and so forth.
Our particular department is involved in the human resource development area. The task there was to project the types and volumes of jobs expected, that could be there during exploration, what the process of construction and operation of the pipeline and processing plants would be.
It identified the types of careers that would be available for Northerners. So, like the diamond development area, which Mr. Krutko is very familiar in, there are value-added areas from time to time, and spin off businesses created.
In the case of the value-added, we were able to develop a training program for individuals through Aurora College for pre-employment training for mine work. As well, some assistance for career training for people in the cutting industry.
Similar activities will present themselves as opportunities in the oil and gas area. Our proposal identifies a three-year schedule of activities to promote human resource development. The department is working with the federal government industry and aboriginal organizations, and we are looking at establishing an oil and gas training committee.
The first meeting of this is planned to be later this year, possibly in August, and it will involve the Inuvialuit Regional Corporation and the Gwich'in Tribal Council, who are hosting this particular meeting.