WHEREAS the Sahtu region has an employment rate of 55 percent;

AND WHEREAS approximately 9 percent of the population of the Northwest Territories has less than a Grade 9 education and 20 percent of the

population has not obtained education beyond high school;

AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories strongly supports a resident workforce in existing and future development;

AND WHEREAS there is a potential for major industrial development in the Sahtu that would result in a great demand for skilled workers;

AND WHEREAS there is an increasing demand for renewable energy development in every Sahtu community, creating a long-lasting demand for skilled workers, particularly amongst the local resident population;

AND WHEREAS resident workforce development has been identified as a key piece of Sahtu exploration readiness;

AND WHEREAS the pending Inuvik to Tuktoyaktuk highway and future infrastructure initiatives in the Northwest Territories will also create a demand for skilled workers;

AND WHEREAS there is a growing shortage of skilled labour nationwide;

AND WHEREAS Aurora College, the Mine Training Society and partnerships with industry have provided successful opportunities for the development of the northern workforce;

NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Yellowknife Centre, that the Government of the Northwest Territories conduct a planning study in the 2014-2015 fiscal year for a Sahtu regional institute of technology;

AND FURTHER, that the Government of the Northwest Territories provide a response to this motion within 120 days.