Government of Canada invests in job market information to help increase Aboriginal participation in the Canadian workforce

SASKATOON, July 24, 2014 /CNW/ - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, along with Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River, today announced over $675,000 in funding to the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, on behalf of the Honourable Jason Kenney, Minister of Employment and Social Development.

This project will provide job market information on over 125 major projects located near more than 500 Aboriginal communities across Canada. This information will help identify current and future demand for workers in key areas for these major projects, such as northern mines and construction sites, to help inform decisions on skills requirements and training for employers and Aboriginal people.

This investment is an example of action to increase labour market information as part of a wide range of supports to help Canadians develop the skills needed for in-demand jobs.

Quick Facts

• Major project investments in Canada are projected to exceed $500 billion in capital investments over the next 10 years.
  
  
• In recent years, the majority of growth in Aboriginal employment has occurred in construction, mining, and oil and gas.
  
  
• Aboriginal people represent the fastest-growing segment of the Canadian population.

Quotes

"Our government's top priorities are creating jobs, economic growth and long-term prosperity for all Canadians. Given the proximity of many Aboriginal communities to large economic projects, there is a tremendous opportunity to address some of Canada's skill shortages, while enabling Aboriginal people to take advantage of local economic opportunities. Through this funding to the Aboriginal Human Resource Council, our government is supporting job market information, so that employers, Aboriginal workers and job seekers can make more informed business, career and training decisions."
- The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"Our government is creating jobs and economic growth. Canada's long-term prosperity depends on the labour market participation of all its citizens, particularly those under-represented in the workforce, such as Aboriginal people. We are working with Aboriginal people so that they can get the skills and training they need to secure meaningful employment. This includes providing Aboriginal workers and job seekers with better labour market information."
- Rob Clarke, Member of Parliament for Desnethé-Missinippi-Churchill River

"Resource-based companies need access to a skilled labour market in close proximity to major projects—this presents a great opportunity for Aboriginal communities. Aboriginal people are Canada's most under-leveraged, fastest- growing and youngest human resource asset. The forecasting of labour market trends and occupational data will help the Aboriginal workforce align its training and employment focus, and provide a stronger foundation on which to build prosperous business and employment partnerships between Aboriginal communities and companies."
- Kelly J. Lendsay, President and CEO of the Aboriginal Human Resource Council

"Aboriginal workers will be better placed today to succeed in a resources based economy because of funding organizations like the Aboriginal Human Resource Council and similar Tribal Council initiatives. For the Meadow Lake Tribal Council this means that we will have improved access to employment opportunities in our community, and close to resource projects. Ultimately, this means we can have the same opportunity to thrive in our home community as other Canadians."
- Eric Sylvestre, Tribal Chief, Meadow Lake Tribal Council

Associated Links

Canada's Economic Action Plan
Labour Market Information

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Backgrounder

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Sectoral Initiatives Program

This project is funded under the Sectoral Initiatives Program, which supports partnership-based projects that are national in scope and/or nationally significant and that contribute to the development of labour market information, national occupational standards and certification/accreditation regimes, to address skills shortages in strategic sectors of Canada's economy.

To date, funding has been provided for 29 partnership-based projects that address skills shortages and mismatches across 22 economic sectors.

Government of Canada investments in labour market information

The Government of Canada launched a new Job Alerts system in January 2013 to make it easier for job seekers and employers to connect. To date, over 380,000 subscribers have received over 193 million Job Alerts. Job Alerts is available through the recently enhanced National Job Bank, which includes consolidated labour market information to make it an even more powerful tool for workers and employers.

Economic Action Plan 2014 is also investing $11.8 million over two years and an additional $3.3 million per year after that to launch an enhanced Job Matching Service to help connect Canadians with available jobs.

In addition, the Government of Canada is funding two new surveys, at a cost of $14 million annually, to collect reliable and comparable information on wages and job vacancies, and identify current and emerging labour market pressures.

Aboriginal labour market programs

Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS): ASETS is an element of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development. It supports 85 Aboriginal organizations throughout Canada that deliver skills training and support services to prepare First Nations, Métis and Inuit people to succeed in the workforce.

Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF): SPF is an opportunity-driven fund that encourages Aboriginal organizations to create partnerships with government, business and community organizations to provide skills training and create job opportunities for Aboriginal people.

First Nations Job Fund: Through Economic Action Plan 2013, the Government of Canada improved the Income Assistance on-reserve program. A key component of this initiative is the First Nations Job Fund. The Job Fund provides personalized job training to young Income Assistance recipients in participating communities, so they can develop the right skills to secure jobs.

SOURCE: Employment and Social Development Canada

Contacts

Alexandra Fortier
Office of Minister Kenney
819-994-2482

Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
[email protected]
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