Government of Canada supports workers in Asia-Pacific Gateway

VANCOUVER, BRITISH COLUMBIA, July 30, 2009—The Honourable Stockwell Day, Minister of International Trade, Minister for the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Regional Minister for British Columbia, announced today the Government of Canada’s support for an industry‑driven skills development organization and its first two projects, as part of the Government’s strategy to ensure Canada is a critical link in the supply chain between Asia and North America.

“Our Government’s support for the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table will help BC workers develop the skills needed to meet the challenges of a highly competitive global market,” said Minister Day. “I am proud to be part of a government that recognizes the importance of the Asia‑Pacific Gateway to our future economic prosperity.”

The Government of Canada established the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table last fall with an investment of $1.5 million. This organization will develop projects to address the recruitment, retention and skills development needs of the industries associated with the Gateway.

In addition, the Government will also provide up to $3 million, under the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative, to support specific projects identified by the Skills Table. As part of this Initiative, Minister Day, on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, announced support for two Skills Table projects: $147,047 for the Business of Shipping – Training Pilot Project and $83,079 for the British Columbia Security Labour Market Roundtable.

“Government understands that being competitive means ensuring that Canadians have the workplace skills needed to adapt to a changing global market,” said Ms. Oksana Exell, Executive Director of the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table. “We have partnered with a wide variety of Asia‑Pacific Gateway stakeholders to develop these meaningful, needed projects that will assist in building our reputation as a leading, international trade corridor.”

Canada’s Economic Action Plan is the Government of Canada’s strategy to protect Canadians from the impacts of the global economic downturn and help provide for the country’s long-term growth. A key component of the Plan is to create more and better opportunities for Canadian workers through skills development and training.

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This news release is available in alternative formats upon request.

Visit the Human Resources and Skills Development Canada Web site at www.hrsdc.gc.ca.

For further information (media only):

Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
Office of Minister Finley
819-994-2482

Vashti Singh
Communications Manager
APGST
604-684-1471 x102/604-839-7710

Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills
Development Canada
819-994-5559

Backgrounder

Developing Canada’s human resources is increasingly vital to competing in today’s competitive global economy. The Government of Canada recognizes the need to maintain Canada’s knowledge advantage, and to ensure that Canada has the best educated, most skilled and most flexible workforce in the world. Through the Sector Council Program, the Government of Canada works with cross-sectoral organizations such as the Asia Pacific Gateway Skills Table that bring together industry, labour, governments, and Aboriginal interests in an effort to coordinate and initiate action in response to human resources and skills development pressures associated with investments in the Asia-Pacific Gateway.

The Skills Table serves as a cross-sectoral, industry-driven organization that responds to human resources and skills development pressures associated with economic prosperity in the Asia-Pacific Gateway by:

• Establishing priority projects;
• Leveraging investments in skills and human resource development projects;
• Supporting partnerships among industry stakeholders; and
• Advancing solutions and strategies adopted by the Skills Table to meet industry needs.

Current Skills Table projects include:

• BC Security Labour Market Roundtable (May 4, 2009 – December 31, 2009 - $83,079 in funding).
• Business of Shipping - Training Pilot Project (June 15, 2009 – January 15,, 2011 - $147,047 in funding).

Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative

The Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor is a network of transportation infrastructure including British Columbia’s Lower Mainland and Prince Rupert ports, their principal road and rail connections stretching across Western Canada and south to the United States, key border crossings, and major Canadian airports. The network serves all of Canada, and the Asia-Pacific Gateway and Corridor Initiative aims to take advantage of Canada’s strategic location, at the crossroads between the North American marketplace and the booming economies of Asia.

The purpose of the Initiative is to strengthen Canada’s competitive position in international commerce. Specifically, the Initiative seeks to:

• Boost Canada’s commerce with the Asia-Pacific region;
• Increase the Gateway’s share of North America-bound container imports from Asia; and
• Improve the efficiency and reliability of the Gateway for Canadian and North American exports.

The Government of Canada’s investments will continue to promote increased investments by the private sector and other public sector partners to help ensure efficient and seamless connections between the various modes of transportation and improve traffic flows for international cargo.