Human Resources Development Canada, Agriculture and Agri-Food Canada and the Government of Ontario are contributing to this effort to bring about change in the farming sector. A pilot project launched four years ago has been very successful and continues to generate a great deal of interest among farmers. It was the first time in almost fifty years that farmers played such an active role in regional economic development initiatives. Major capital projects are planned for 1998, among them the construction of a dryer and an elevator. Customized training The forestry and mining industries use highly specialized processes and machinery.
Employers have to provide their employees with equally specialized training to use certain tools.
The initiative also extends to young people interested in working in the forestry sector, who can take the training to get a head start in their efforts to find work. The company marks off a separate cutting area for the training company and buys back the timber, the manufacturer provides the equipment, and the college teaches the trainees how to operate the equipment.