Final report: Skills needs in the resource-based sectors in Atlantic Canada

Skills requirements in the resource industries in Atlantic Canada were put under the microscope at this conference. One of the objectives was to show that while the resource-based industries may not undertake extensive research and development, they are employing increasingly sophisticated technology which places increasing emphasis on the need for skilled personnel. Participants at the conference concluded that Atlantic Canada has the means to meet increasing demand for skilled workers in the resource sectors, and that the post-secondary educational system appears to have established a good rapport with the industries to ensure that the programs are meeting the sectors' changing needs. The oil and gas sector is an exception in that it is new to the area, combined with the fact that it has placed emphasis not only on skilled but skilled and experienced personnel from the start. There is also a paucity of training programs in sustainable development which is expected to become the dominant issue for resource management personnel in the next century. New skills are required to deal with this issue and post-secondary institutions of learning and the resource-based sectors will have to work together to develop the skills such as understanding ecosystem management problems and communicating with the public. Atlantic Canada cannot afford not to find a path to sustainability through the application of science and technology to management, knowledgeable extraction, and imaginative transformation of natural resources. 28 refs., 2 tabs