The Northern Manitoba Sector Council (NMSC) is a not-for-profit corporation representing the region’s major employers in the Mining, Forestry, Energy and Health sectors. It was developed in response to northern employers’ expressed interests and challenges in the recruitment, training and retention of northern and Aboriginal people for northern employment opportunities.
The role of the NMSC, as an employer-led network, is to ensure that its Member’s needs are the starting point for future education and training initiatives. Aligning the development of northern human resources with employment opportunities, present and in future, is key to fostering sustainability.
The Northern Manitoba Sector Council is governed by a Board of Directors, comprised of representatives from the member organizations:
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- Chair – Richard Trudeau (Hudbay Minerals)
- Vice Chair – Dayna Waring (Vale)
- Secretary Treasurer – Todd Chornoby (Hydro)
Funding comes from the Government of Manitoba and Government of Canada, as well as from industry member contributions. In house training initiatives are supported by the NMSC on a cost shared basis with employers. The NMSC will also apply for project funds as required to support key initiatives.
Positioning Statement
Northern Manitoba Sector Council – building a skilled workforce for northern Manitoba’s resource-based industries. Northern People for Northern Jobs.
Mission
To fuel northern Manitoba’s successful growth, the Northern Manitoba Sector Council we will collaborate with industry, government and educational institutions to support training that aligns with current and projected job opportunities in northern Manitoba, and will broadly promote northern industrial careers.
Vision
Northern Manitoba Sector Council will be an active, responsive advocate for healthy economic development in Northern Manitoba (by aaron olson). It will attract and build a skilled, motivated workforce committed to living in and loving our north.
Mandate
The mandate of the Northern Manitoba Sector Council is to address the training, recruitment and human resources development issues of the region’s employers. This will be accomplished, in part, by bringing together employers, educators, government and other stakeholders to address employers’ training and recruitment needs. It will also recommend and deliver innovative and practical projects relating to education, training and labour market information.
The Northern Manitoba Sector has developed a work plan which it will deploy as part of its implementation process. Four key components are found here:
- Research: The Director will engage the services of a consultant to complete a comprehensive labour force study and analysis of the member industries. This data will contain current and projected job vacancies and analysis of the skills gaps and skills development needs of the region.
- Skills Development: Northern Manitoba Sector Council will work with the Province of Manitoba, Department of Industry Workforce Development to pilot an Essential Skills assessment and gap training initiative. The short term will provide an Essential Skills assessment tool to be made available to Northern Manitoba Sector Council members. The longer term will see the development and delivery of essential skills training at major centres and communities throughout the north.
- Recruitment: Multiple strategies will be developed to encourage people with the needed skills to see northern Manitoba and northern Manitoba employers as a great place to live and work. Engagement will be necessary with the Department of Labour and Immigration.
- Advocacy and Outreach: Northern Manitoba Sector Council will develop a marketing plan to raise the profile of the Council and its work. In addition, working relationships will need to be developed with secondary and post-secondary institutions so as to orient career paths and educational processes which support northern opportunities.
Goals and Objectives
- Enhance worker skills
- Address skills and labour shortages and build on Essential Skills
- Link education and training to labour market needs
- Link human resources development to regional economic development
- Focus training projects on employer identified priorities
- Cost-share projects and provide economies of scale financial savings
- Recruit and support new workers to the labour force
- Work to facilitate the implementation of Essential Skills training
- Assist industry in the development of training in support of their aboriginal employment polices
- Work with northern communities to provide information and points of contact to engage northern industry
- Assist in the development, set up and delivery of specific skills training projects in northern Manitoba
- Work to support the development of northern based training facilities to serve the special needs of northern residents and northern industry