October 28, 2010

Ottawa, ON – The Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, Member of Parliament for Nunavut, Minister of Health, and Minister Responsible for the North, extends congratulations to First Air on a new educational initiative aimed at developing employment opportunities for communities across the North.

In a message recently released by First Air, President Scott Bateman announced:
At the end of October, we will unveil our proactive employment strategy with a showcase event in Iqaluit. Our program will focus on recruitment and
career development through mentoring and on the job skills training, as well as personal and professional development.

“Increasingly, there is a need for heightened corporate responsibility to be taken by companies operating in the North through the identification and development of strategic plans aimed at employment opportunities and resource availability for Northerners,” Minister Aglukkaq remarked.

“Through initiatives such as this, companies like First Air are proactively stepping up and working with communities to improve training and enhance educational
programs. This is a mutually beneficial strategy, as career development and job training will play key roles in fostering a strong foundation for continued and
collaborative economic development in the North.”
Additional information will be made available shortly, as First Air plans to officially launch this initiative at the upcoming Career Fair in Iqaluit on October 28th.

For more information, please contact:
Rachelle M.J. Bernardi
Parliamentary Assistant
Office of the Honourable Leona Aglukkaq, P.C.,
Minister of Health, Regional Minister for the North &
Member of Parliament for Nunavut
T: (613) 992-2848
F: (613) 996-9764