Sign up for the paNOW newsletter

Partnerships Provide New Student Training

Mar 4, 2015 | 4:20 PM

A new student training program in the Autobody industry is now available in our province.

The program, is a partnership between Saskatchewan Indian Institute of Technologies (SIIT), the Saskatchewan Automobile Dealers Association (SADA), the Saskatchewan Association of Automobile Repairers (SAAR), and SGI.

Saskatchewan Government Insurance (SGI) is providing almost $80,000 to develop and deliver a pilot project for the new pre-employment auto body repair program.

The 10-week program is designed to prepare Aboriginal people who are interested in a career in the auto body repair industry.  It includes eight weeks of training and two weeks of direct work experience in an auto body repair shop. SGI will also host the first wave of students at its claims technical research facility in Regina, to give them six weeks of hands-on experience.

It is a win-win situation. Students will be prepared for employment opportunities, and employers will have access to a much needed, skilled workforce. SADA and SAAR will assist graduates in finding jobs.

March 2015 means MLAs have returned to Regina for the Spring Sitting of the Saskatchewan Legislature.  Your Saskatchewan Party government’s priority will be to finalize and present the 2015-16 provincial budget. In spite of reduced revenues in some sectors, our government’s commitment to keep the province strong won’t change.

We have faced economic challenges before, for example in 2009, when oil and potash revenues declined. Despite these challenges, we worked hard to balance the budget that year, and the economy was quick to rebound.

The people of our province also worked hard. They leveraged our province’s strong and diversified economy. As a result, jobs were still created, investment continued to flow, and our population continued to grow.

An excellent example of this is Athabasca Basin Development, recently named 2014 Business of the Year by SaskBusiness Magazine.

This business was created 18 years ago through an innovative partnership of seven northern Saskatchewan communities.

It makes strategic investments in successful companies within Saskatchewan and Canada. With current assets at over $80 Million; it is a shining example of aboriginal entrepreneur excellence.

It is this kind of forward thinking that enables our province to continue to build from a position of strength. Because ultimately, it is the people of Saskatchewan, that will overcome challenges, and keep it strong.

Prince Albert Northcote constituents are always welcome to contact me.  Call 306-922-4220, visit my website at http://mlajurgens.ca or email mlajurgens@sasktel.net. My office is located at 5A 598 15 St. East across from Superstore