 Wednesday, February 21, 2007 -- Comments given at Skills on the Hill Event -- Thank you to Skills Canada and the WorldSkills 2009 Committee for inviting me. Tonight we launch the WorldSkills new website. Thank you to Terry Cooke and Shaun Thorson of Skills Canada for organizing this event. And to Richard Walker and Guy Mallabone, WorldSkills 2009 organizers. Skills Canada and WorldSkills 2009 have helped us focus on exciting skilled trades career choices. Skilled trades play an important role in building a strong future for Canada. Welcome to the First Secretary of the Japanese Embassy, Mr. Koga. This fall many of the students here tonight will go to Japan to compete at the WorldSkills competition. Last fall, I joined Minister Baird, Mike Holmes from the T.V. show Holmes on Homes and Skills Canada at Algonquin College. We launched National Skilled Trades Day.
 We met Nathan Banke an auto-mechanics student who is competing in Japan this fall. Mechanics are no longer like those on Corner Gas. Nathan demonstrated to all of us, that in order to be competitive in the auto industry today, auto mechanic skills must be technical skills. They are computer oriented skills. Everyone was very impressed. I know Nathan and Canada’s other students will do us proud in Japan this fall.
At Algonquin, Mike Holmes told the young people that he makes the most of his skills training everyday by helping solve construction troubles. Mike Holmes motto is "Make it right the first time." this is more than construction advice this is a good philosophy for life from a Canadian hero.  This upcoming June my home city of Saskatoon will host the Skills Canada competition. I am told over 1500 delegates, including 500 students will be competing. I look forward to attending the event.
This evening we are meeting many young Canadians that have excelled in their trade areas. Now if Terry Cooke and Richard Walker want to join me we will launch the WorldSkills website. DEVELOP YOUR SKILLS! Lynne Yelich joins Algonquin culinary skills student Pat McCullagh in making sushi at Skills on the Hill Event Feb. 21/07  
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