As a result of all of this, over the past couple of years, considerable work has been completed to identify the full range of skills and industry occupational standards required for HEO and Skilled Labourer.

• 2004 – Industry Standards for HEO
• 2005 – Industry Standards for Skilled Labourer
• 2005 – Work Ready Passport – What will it take?
• 2005 – Essential and Employability Skills for HEO: Leaf Rapids Project
• 2006 - Essential and Employability Skills Curriculum for HEO and Skilled Labourer

These projects were initiated with partners for a variety of reasons such as:

• Creating quality training
• Including a diverse labour force
• Being responsive to rural and remote training needs and conditions
• Facilitating the training for major capital projects

This work has involved the following partners at various points including:

• Employment Training Services (ETS), Manitoba Advanced Education and Training
• Standards and project committees representing industry – Operating Engineers of Manitoba, Manitoba Heavy Construction Association, Government Services, Labourers Industrial Union and various companies
• Communities such as Fisher River, Leaf Rapids and Fox Lake
• Industry Training Partnerships, Manitoba Advanced Education and Training
• Manitoba Conservation
• Workplace Education Manitoba Steering Committee (WEMSC)
• Workplace Prior Learning Assessment and Recognition Committee (WPLAR)

Employment Training Services decided to create, through these two occupations, a multi-faceted labour market development model. Part 1 of these reports, (Essential and Employability Skills Curriculum) is the result of a desire to include ES and employability skills as being some of the most important skills that employers want. Part II, PLAR for HEO and Skilled Labourer, describes the labour market development model and includes the recognition of prior learning within it as yielding benefits to the worker, governments and employers as follows: