ARE THERE ANY PROJECTS SPECIFICALLY FOR WOMEN UNDER THE SKILLS GROWTH FUND? There are presently three Skills Growth Fund projects designed specifically for women: The Halifax YWCA will offer Business Programming courses to low income women. In Toronto, the West End Women Entering Machining Inc. will train women in metal cutting and machining trades, focusing on sole support mothers. The Labrador Institute for Northern Studies will train Native women as Resource Technicians. WHAT STEPS HAVE BEEN TAKEN TO NOTIFY WOMEN AND WOMEN'S GROUPS ABOUT THE $50,000 AVAILABLE TO GROUPS TO DEVELOP PROPOSALS FOR TAKING ADVANTAGE OF THE SKILLS GROWTH FUND? Again according to the Director General of Training, notification of the Proposal Development Fund was announced at the end of June in a press conference which received exhaustive media coverage. This was followed by an advertising campaign in national media in July. In addition, the information is conveyed in meetings with women's groups. Women's Employment Co-ordinators in the regions are also a source of information. UNDER WHAT CIRCUMSTANCES WOULD YOU APPROVE OR NOT APPROVE SKILLS GROWTH FUND MONEY? (from questionnaire from Minister of Education) This question was directed to education Ministers. The Newfoundland Department of Education replied that their involvement in the approval process is through its representative on a joint Federal/Provincial Committee established under the Federal/Provincial Training Agreement. The Saskatchewan Department of Education listed these criteria for approval of Skills Growth Fund money: that the training be consistent with labor market needs in the province that the programs are not duplicating on-going training initiatives.

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