Saskatchewan increases access to driver training for First Nations students

All students who attend on-reserve high schools in Saskatchewan will have access to driver education, the provincial government announced this week. 

The announcement follows the release of the Joint Task Force on Improvement Education and Employment Outcomes for First Nations and Métis People report, released Monday. 

Increased access to driver education removes barriers to mobility and employment opportunities, a challenge identified in the report.

While driver training is already offered by some First Nations high schools, this will enable approximately 2,600 more First Nations students to take driver education, the government said. 

SGI, the province’s public insurer, will discuss funding of the additional programs with both the federal government and First Nations Bands, the government added. 

“Increased access to driver training makes the roads safer for all Saskatchewan residents,” Donna Harpauer, the minister responsible for SGI, noted in as statement. “This provides SGI with another opportunity to promote traffic safety with First Nations youth and helps support growth of Saskatchewan’s workforce by facilitating access to driver’s licences.”

SGI will be consulting with First Nations high schools in the coming months, and will assist them in implementation of the program.

“Driver education is something that should be provided to all students in our province, regardless of where they live or attend school,” Provincial Education Minister Russ Marchuk noted in the statement.

“Our government is committed to ensuring that all Saskatchewan residents share in the success of our growing province, and that requires removing barriers to First Nations education and employment opportunities.”

Simon Bird, Federation of Saskatchewan Indian Nations vice chief, said he is pleased with the announcement.

“This is an important issue we have been working with the provincial government on for the last two years, and we see this as a positive first step in moving forward on the recommendations of the Joint Task Force,” Bird said. “I agree that this funding removes a barrier to mobility and employment opportunities for First Nations youth in this territory called Saskatchewan.”