Aboriginal Labour Market Programs

The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS) is a community-based strategy designed to help Aboriginal people prepare for, obtain and maintain employment. Under this Strategy, Aboriginal organizations design and deliver employment programs and services best suited to meet the unique needs of their communities. The AHRDS is a $1.6 billion initiative launched in 1999 and renewed in 2004 with the same level of funding until March 31, 2009. AHRDS involves 79 First Nations, Inuit and Métis Agreement holders and some 220 sub-agreement holders across the ten provinces and three territories.

The AHRDS is being extended to March 31, 2010. This one-year extension will allow the Government of Canada to fulfill its Budget 2008 commitment to continue engaging Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders on the design and transition to a successor strategy to the AHRDS.

The Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program is an $85 million multi-year funding, opportunity-driven initiative launched in 2003 to provide Aboriginal people with sustainable jobs and careers in major economic development ventures underway across Canada in the mining, oil and gas, construction, forestry, and hydroelectric industry.