Manitoba Pledges Millions for Youth Education and Boosts Ag Sector

By Elmer Heinrichs

Manitoba will spend as much as $10 million on a new development at a Brandon college, Premier Heather Stefanson announced recently.

Stefanson, in Brandon for the 46th annual Manitoba Ag Days, said Assiniboine Community College’s Prairie Innovation Centre will help at- tract young people to jobs in Manitoba, specifically in the agriculture sector.

“As our economy emerges into a new era of growth, our government is working collaboratively with industry, the business sector and our post-secondary institutions to ensure we attract our youth to the jobs of the future, and provide the training and skills necessary to be successful,” said the premier.

The centre is part of an ongoing expansion of the college’s programming, with the goal of addressing labour shortages and high-demand jobs in the province.

According to ACC the proposal includes 16 new or expanded educational programs and supporting infrastructure. The college is projecting the new centre would increase enrolment by approximately 600 students, to nearly 900 from the current 300, in high-demand fields as agriculture, agriculture extension, environment and technology programs.