Thank you, Mr. Chairman. My question is with regard to the oil and gas industrial training. I have been checking into exactly where we can probably get the most benefit from organizations or institutions that have done a lot of work in this area. Probably one of the best resource centres is out of Calgary with regard to the Canadian Petroleum Association.
There are also aboriginal institutions in southern Calgary who specialize in training and curriculum development around the oil and gas industry. Right now, there is a major study going on in Fort Nelson in northern B.C. by CPA to look at exactly how industry, the aboriginal communities and the people in the private sector could try to maximize the benefits from the oil and gas industry.
As a government, I know we are taking some steps, but I believe we have to start delivering curriculum at the regional colleges. The Fort Smith college used to have the heavy duty programs, mechanics, and we started to look at different apprenticeship programs. I think we have to start formulating our college system to take advantage of the economy that is around us. We have done a lot of work around the diamond industry, especially training people in the different fields when it comes to apprenticeships.
I would like to ask the Minister exactly what is the department doing to look at the oil and gas industry and start formulating different types of apprenticeship programs and certification programs, so that we could deliver these programs through Arctic College, say in Inuvik, and have them work alongside industry and work with people within the private sector to take on some of these training initiatives?
With some 1,600 job opportunities in the Mackenzie Delta, I feel that we do not have anything close to having that many people trained in the different areas that is going to be needed. We definitely have to take advantage of it. We have to have those people with those skills trained to be able to take that on. So I would like to ask the Minister exactly what are you are doing to look at the possibility of developing curriculum around the oil and gas industry?