More than $1 million to create jobs and expand aviation capacity for communities in the Athabasca Basin region and across Saskatchewan
Canada's vast geography means that air transport plays an essential role in linking communities together. In northern communities especially, the only year-round access is often by air. The Governments of Canada and Saskatchewan are supporting the province's aviation industry by investing in a program to offer commercial pilot training that will assist candidates from northern communities to build successful careers in aviation while making a positive impact on air service in their region.
Today, the Honourable Dan Vandal, Minister for PrairiesCan, and Athabasca MLA Jim Lemaigre on behalf of Saskatchewan Immigration and Career Training Minister Jeremy Harrison, announced a joint investment of $1,006,500 to assist the Ya'thi Néné Land and Resource Office in delivering commercial pilot training to Indigenous residents of Northern Saskatchewan.
Saskatchewan's mining and energy sectors play an important role in the growth of the provincial economy, and air transportation is crucial to support Northern mining operations. This program will help improve accessibility to the North and remote communities, while creating growth in this region of the province and increasing Indigenous employment in the aviation sector.
This project, called the Dziret'ái Pilot Training Program, will provide skills and academic upgrading to 15 student applicants ,10 of whom will be selected to enter the professional pilot training program to start in January 2025. Students who complete the 2-year program will be guaranteed jobs with Rise Air as First Officers.
The investments from PrairiesCan ($631,500) and the Saskatchewan Ministry of Immigration and Career Training ($375,000) will leverage industry cash and in-kind contributions and funding from Prince Albert Grand Council ($315,000), Cameco ($200,000), Orano Canada ($50,000), SSR Mining ($50,000), Rise Air ($690,000) and Ya'thi Néné ($100,000).
