Minister Ambrose at the NAIT Sandvik Coromant Centre for Machinist Technology with Susan Jones, a machinist apprentice, Minister of Alberta Advanced Education and Technology Doug Horner, Pernilla Eriksson or Sanvik Coromant, NAIT President and CEO Dr. Sam Shaw and Stewart Cook, Chair of the NAIT Machinist Program

Minister Ambrose announced a Government investment of $2.2 million in NAIT’s Sandvik Coromant Centre for Machinist Technology at today’s grand opening in Edmonton.

The new centre will help companies in Alberta and all over Canada improve their productivity by increasing their access to more skilled machinists. The updated facility will increase NAIT’s apprenticeship training capacity by 50%. Currently, NAIT trains more apprentices than anyone in Canada, including 50 per cent of trades people in Alberta and 17 per cent nationally, driven by a 10-year Workforce Development Plan to address the skills shortage.

“The Government of Canada is investing in NAIT’s Sandvik Coromant Centre for Machinist Technology to help increase the supply of highly skilled labour in Canada,” said Minister Ambrose. “Graduates of this centre will help make our economy more productive and competitive, and they will have the means to achieve a higher standard of living and a better quality of life. Investing in Alberta's world-class apprenticeship training system is a priority for the Government of Canada. We are delighted to see the collaboration of all the partners to make this exciting NAIT project happen to provide Alberta apprentices with a practical advantage and access to leading edge technology.”

Since being elected in 2006, the Government of Canada, through Western Economic Diversification Canada, has invested more than $9.8 million in NAIT to help maintain the economic vitality of Western Canada and position Western Canada’s workforce and industry for continued success.