Written by Gage Gosselin

The Saskatchewan Government has announced the funding of $4.38 Million for the Saskatchewan Apprenticeship and Trade Certification Commission (SATCC) alongside other training institutions to deliver skills training programs to continue to help grow a skilled workforce within Saskatchewan.

The funding will allow institutions to expand their skills training programs in the construction, welding, and health care sectors to help meet the needs of labour for businesses. The Government of Saskatchewan stated in a release that the funding will support key actions to the Saskatchewan Growth Plan to ensure under-represented groups are enabled to participate in the economy.

"Saskatchewan is making significant investments in training our provincial workforce as we enter a period of strong growth coming out of the pandemic," Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison said. "This funding will prioritize training for individuals who are under-represented in the workforce, it will promote a more diverse and inclusive workforce, and it will grow the number of skilled workers in high-demand occupations in communities across Saskatchewan."

Several of the new training opportunities are targeted at Indigenous individuals, and will be delivered through partnerships between training institutions and the communities, stated the Government release. One of the projects is the expansion of the Tiny House Project, which will provide Indigenous apprentices with work experience while working towards their journeyperson certificates by building small, modular homes within their community.

Training will be funded through the Canada-Saskatchewan Labour Market Transfer Agreements and provided by the SATCC along with other training institutions. Alongside the Tiny House Project expansion, other skill programs include:

  • Welding
  • Health Care Aide/Continuing Care Aide
  • Medical Lab Assistant
  • Electrical Applied Certificate
  • Steel Stud and Drywall
  • Introduction to Scaffolding