NTAB looking for community input

In anticipation of the “downloading” of responsibility to the regional level, the Northwest Training and Adjustment Board will be hosting a community consultation meeting here next week to gather information for its operating plan.
From that, the board is hoping to identify projects to best address the needs of the area, and be ready to react positively when it takes over the responsibility–something that’s expected to happen over the next six to 18 months.
Once that happens, the local training boards will direct any public funds for training and services in their areas.
“It’s going to be a brain-storming session in essence,” project co-ordinator Derek Teevan said of the two-hour meeting slated Nov. 10 at 7 p.m. at Confederation College. “From that, we’ve found that some great ideas have come up.
“What we’ve heard so far is we really need a central focus,” he added, noting people wanted local committees because of the huge geographical area involved, with representation on the bigger board.
“What we’re trying to do in Northwestern Ontario is set up an argument that that has to happen,” Teevan stressed.
The board’s catchment area is bounded by Ignace to the Manitoba border, and north from the international border to Hudson’s Bay.
As one of four direct consultations (the others are in Kenora, Dryden, and Atikokan), the focus is to:
•learn from the public what the training and adjustment needs are in the area;
•gather input to be included in the operation plan to meet local and regional training needs; and
•raise awareness of the NTAB.
The board expects to come out with its operating plan early next month.
NTAB was formed to make job and skills training more accessible, effective, and responsive to local needs.
It is a non-profit organization composed of volunteers representing seven labour market partner groups–business, educators and trainers, labour, women, visible minorities, persons with disabilities, and Francophones.