Thank you, Mr. Speaker. Today I would like to highlight a government and industry partnership that kicks off today across town, actually at Northern United Place, with the launch of the apprenticeship support materials. Mr. Speaker, we all know the northern economy is booming and with that boom has come an increased demand for skilled trades people. More and more people and certainly more young people, when we go around to schools that we have had a chance to talk to, are becoming interested in apprenticeships, but there is a major hurdle, Mr. Speaker. That is the trades entrance exam. In some communities, mostly the smaller communities, fewer than 10 percent of those taking the exam get a passing grade on their first attempt. That's not a big surprise, Mr. Speaker, when you consider that until now, there have been no support materials or training available.
De Beers Canada Mining has recognized this, Mr. Speaker. They knew it would be a problem to achieve the goal of having a northern workforce able to participate in meaningful occupations, but these materials, Mr. Speaker, should address that shortcoming. The focus will be in the areas of math, science and reading comprehension, all of the components required to be successful in the trades entrance exam. If you are wondering about the format, it will be available in the traditional paper-based format, but also in CD and web-based and that will allow it to be easily expandable and adaptable.
I know many of the Members will be wondering if you have to come to Yellowknife to access these materials and the answer is no, Mr. Speaker. Training is going to take place across the Northwest Territories. Training will be offered, I understand, at apprenticeship offices, career development centres, community learning centres, at college campuses and in high schools right across the NWT. I should highlight the partners, Mr. Speaker. De Beers Canada obviously have been very influential, but ECE and the federal government, various departments, Aurora College, Skills Canada, the NWT and Nunavut branches, and also, Mr. Speaker, I would like to recognize the Genesis Group, a local firm who are very influential and were behind the development of these specific materials.
So, Mr. Speaker, I think we all look forward to good things that I believe will come from this partnership. Thank you.
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