Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
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Fact Sheet - Support for Aboriginal People
The Government of Canada is committed to supporting Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) in tough economic times through targeted investments to improve their skills development and employability, and to help them secure long-term jobs.
These investments are part of Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government's plan to stimulate the economy, protect Canadians during the global recession and invest in long-term growth.
New in Canada's Economic Action Plan
- Proposed additional funding to enhance the existing Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program to address opportunities for training linked to employment opportunities in Aboriginal communities and the private sector;
- Planned funding for a new Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund to strengthen employer partnerships to develop and implement training-to-employment plans; and
- Additional funding for 2009-2010 until the successor of the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy is put in place in April 2010.
Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership
As announced in Canada's Economic Action Plan, the Government will invest an additional $100 million over three years in ASEP to help Aboriginal people (First Nations, Inuit and Métis) participate in the work force and get the training they need to make the most of employment opportunities.
ASEP funds partnerships between Aboriginal organizations and major employers to provide on-the-job training and solid work opportunities in a range of sectors such as mining, oil and gas, forestry and fishing, construction and tourism. This new investment could support up to 25 new projects, resulting up to 6,000 Aboriginal people being employed in long-term skilled jobs.
Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund
As proposed in Canada's Economic Action Plan, $75 million over two years will be used to establish an Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund. The Fund will lay the groundwork for a partnership and results based successor to the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS).
The Fund will strengthen partnerships between Aboriginal employment service organizations and employers through training-to-employment programs related to concrete job opportunities, and will support deeper investments in training for individuals facing barriers to employment such as low literacy and essential skills. There will also be opportunities to support training initiatives associated with other elements of the economic action plan, such as infrastructure and community investment. Canada's Economic Action Plan includes $25 million for 2009-2010 to maintain current AHRDS funding until the new overall strategy is put in place in April 2010.
Vignette — Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund
Suzanne, along with other members of her community, is approached by a local construction firm that is interested in hiring from the local Aboriginal community. Through a federal-provincial infrastructure partnership arrangement, the firm is leading a project that will improve the quality of housing in the community. Suzanne and other candidates are selected from a pool and assessed further for enriched literacy, essential skills training and trade apprenticeship opportunities, leading to long-term, well-paid jobs.
Vignette — Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership
Nicholas is a former student of a construction trades program offered by his local college in rural Canada. The college, with support from the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program, worked with the community's major employer and Aboriginal organizations in the area to train Aboriginal people to obtain employment in a trade to fill a labour shortage. In Nicholas' case, he felt that his skills were best suited for the carpentry trade, and he is now employed as a millwright. Nicholas is one of over 200 people trained to date through this project, which includes 17 Aboriginal, private sector and government partners.
