Harper Government Helps to Create Opportunities for Urban Aboriginal People in Atlantic Canada

Enabling Aboriginal people to take full advantage of the Canadian economy

OTTAWA, March 2, 2015 /CNW/ - Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, in partnership with the National Association of Friendship Centres, today announced support for seven organizations in Atlantic Canada through the Urban Partnerships program.

Through the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Harper Government is making strategic community investments designed to enhance the participation of urban Aboriginal people in their local economies.

A number of organizations across Canada are receiving support for projects that aim to promote skills and training, entrepreneurship, and supporting Aboriginal women, children and families.

Minister Valcourt congratulates the organizations' efforts to target the over $800,000 in combined funding. This funding will help the organizations improve partnerships that address the issues facing urban Aboriginal populations, while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce and increase support for trained, skilled workers.

The improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy results in more dollars being available to support community organizations and projects. This new approach recognizes the important role urban Aboriginal organizations play, and further helps to promote community engagement, planning and partnerships with the goal of increasing the participation of urban Aboriginal people in the Canadian economy.

Quick Facts

• Through the Urban Partnerships program, seven organizations in Atlantic Canada will receive over $800,000 in combined funding as part of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada's improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy.
• These organizations were selected through an adjudicated call for proposals process that was administered by the National Association of Friendship Centres.
• This funding will help them build improved partnerships to address the issues facing urban Aboriginal populations while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce, and increase support for trained, skilled workers.
• According to 2011 Census data, 56 per cent of all Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban areas.
• Cities with the largest Aboriginal populations were Winnipeg (78,420), Edmonton (61,765), Vancouver (52,375), Toronto (36,995), Calgary (33,370), Ottawa-Gatineau (30,570), Montreal (26,280), Saskatoon (23,895), and Regina (19,785).

Quotes

"Our Government is delivering results for Canadians and supporting measures that will help create jobs and opportunities for urban Aboriginal people. Aboriginal participation in the economy is key to a more prosperous and vibrant Canada."

Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"This announcement is the result of our renewed partnership with the Government of Canada. For over half a century, Friendship Centres have been addressing the needs of urban Aboriginal people through our unique wrap-around service delivery model and we welcome these organizations into the network of service delivery under the Urban Aboriginal Strategy."

Nelson Mayer 
President, National Association of Friendship Centres

Related Products

News Release: Harper Government invests in Aboriginal People Living in Urban Centres 
Backgrounder: Urban Aboriginal Programming, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada 
Fact Sheet: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy: Urban Partnerships and Community Capacity Support 
Frequently Asked Questions: The Improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy

Associated Links

Urban Aboriginal Peoples 
National Association of Friendship Centres 
St. John's Native Friendship Centre

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SOURCE Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

Emily Hillstrom, Press Secretary, Office of the Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, 819-997-0002; Media Relations, Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada819-953-1160; Alysha Akoodie, Communications and Social Media Officer, National Association of Friendship Centres, 613-563-4844