Employment program could add as many as 7,000 jobs for Aboriginals, primarily in oil, gas and hydro development projects
The federal government has launched an $85-million program to help Aboriginals find jobs in and near the communities they live in.
Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development, said the government is putting the money, over five years, into the new Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program.
“Canada’s continuing economic and social strength depends on the skills and knowledge of every Canadian,” said Stewart. “Aboriginal people continue to face real challenges in getting and keeping good jobs. ASEP will help change that reality significantly.”
Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the Secretary of State for children and youth, called the program a “historic” opportunity.
“Better training means better jobs, and better jobs mean a better future,” she said. “But not only will this program benefit Aboriginal people, it will also help Canadian businesses in need of skilled workers.”
The money will help finance Aboriginal training-to-retention plans for major economic developments and resource-based projects. In essence, the project is designed to help Aboriginal peoples get better jobs in mining and oil and gas industries.
It will cover a broad continuum ranging from basic skills, literacy and academic upgrading through job-specific training and apprenticeship, to retention counseling and other on-the-job support. As many as 1,000 jobs for Aboriginal people could result within the first few years of ASEP’s operation and that number could surpass 7,000 over five years, according to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).
Applying to the program
Below is the text from HRDC on how the program works and how to go about applying:
“The program is a five-year initiative with total funding of $85 million. It is designed to promote maximum employment for Aboriginal people on major economic developments across Canada, and to provide lasting benefits for Aboriginal communities, families and individuals. The entire initiative is geared to providing Aboriginal people with the skills they need to participate in economic opportunities such as northern mining, oil and gas, and hydro development projects across Canada.
“HRDC will administer ASEP nationally in conjunction with HRDC's regional offices. As an opportunity-driven program, ASEP will operate on a collaborative partnership basis. Significant funding is expected from the private sector, Aboriginal groups, and the province or territory where the large economic or resource-based project is located. These parties will comprise the partnership consortium. Other key partners will include learning institutions, sector councils, labour, and other Government of Canada departments and agencies.
“While the scale of ASEP proposals is expected to be beyond the capacity and resources of agreement holders under the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy, ASEP will complement that strategy and will rely on the involvement of agreement holders in ASEP's broad-based partnership consortiums.
“An ASEP funding proposal submitted by a partnership consortium must set out a comprehensive training-to-employment plan for Aboriginal people that links skills development to specific job opportunities for them. The partners will share the cost of implementing the proposal. The Government of Canada's normal contribution to a project, including HRDC's contribution, will not exceed 75 per cent.
“In light of current skill levels, many Aboriginal employment opportunities on large economic development or resource-based projects will initially be in entry level and semi-skilled jobs. However, the training-to-employment plan will be expected to provide for continuous skill development and the potential for advancement within the project. Incorporated organizations applying for ASEP funding must show that they can provide a minimum of 50 long-term jobs for Aboriginal people.
“Over time, ASEP will help large employers meet labour and skill shortages by tapping into the potential of the Aboriginal work force, which is one of the fastest growing segments of Canada's labour force in several regions of the country.”
ASEP proposals may be sent to the following address:
Ken Donnelly
Assistant director, Aboriginal Relations Office
Human Resources Development Canada
Aboriginal Relations Office/ASEP
140 Promenade du Portage
Phase IV, 5th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0J9
They may also be e-mailed to [email protected].
Jane Stewart, Minister of Human Resources Development, said the government is putting the money, over five years, into the new Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program.
“Canada’s continuing economic and social strength depends on the skills and knowledge of every Canadian,” said Stewart. “Aboriginal people continue to face real challenges in getting and keeping good jobs. ASEP will help change that reality significantly.”
Ethel Blondin-Andrew, the Secretary of State for children and youth, called the program a “historic” opportunity.
“Better training means better jobs, and better jobs mean a better future,” she said. “But not only will this program benefit Aboriginal people, it will also help Canadian businesses in need of skilled workers.”
The money will help finance Aboriginal training-to-retention plans for major economic developments and resource-based projects. In essence, the project is designed to help Aboriginal peoples get better jobs in mining and oil and gas industries.
It will cover a broad continuum ranging from basic skills, literacy and academic upgrading through job-specific training and apprenticeship, to retention counseling and other on-the-job support. As many as 1,000 jobs for Aboriginal people could result within the first few years of ASEP’s operation and that number could surpass 7,000 over five years, according to Human Resources Development Canada (HRDC).
Applying to the program
Below is the text from HRDC on how the program works and how to go about applying:
“The program is a five-year initiative with total funding of $85 million. It is designed to promote maximum employment for Aboriginal people on major economic developments across Canada, and to provide lasting benefits for Aboriginal communities, families and individuals. The entire initiative is geared to providing Aboriginal people with the skills they need to participate in economic opportunities such as northern mining, oil and gas, and hydro development projects across Canada.
“HRDC will administer ASEP nationally in conjunction with HRDC's regional offices. As an opportunity-driven program, ASEP will operate on a collaborative partnership basis. Significant funding is expected from the private sector, Aboriginal groups, and the province or territory where the large economic or resource-based project is located. These parties will comprise the partnership consortium. Other key partners will include learning institutions, sector councils, labour, and other Government of Canada departments and agencies.
“While the scale of ASEP proposals is expected to be beyond the capacity and resources of agreement holders under the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy, ASEP will complement that strategy and will rely on the involvement of agreement holders in ASEP's broad-based partnership consortiums.
“An ASEP funding proposal submitted by a partnership consortium must set out a comprehensive training-to-employment plan for Aboriginal people that links skills development to specific job opportunities for them. The partners will share the cost of implementing the proposal. The Government of Canada's normal contribution to a project, including HRDC's contribution, will not exceed 75 per cent.
“In light of current skill levels, many Aboriginal employment opportunities on large economic development or resource-based projects will initially be in entry level and semi-skilled jobs. However, the training-to-employment plan will be expected to provide for continuous skill development and the potential for advancement within the project. Incorporated organizations applying for ASEP funding must show that they can provide a minimum of 50 long-term jobs for Aboriginal people.
“Over time, ASEP will help large employers meet labour and skill shortages by tapping into the potential of the Aboriginal work force, which is one of the fastest growing segments of Canada's labour force in several regions of the country.”
ASEP proposals may be sent to the following address:
Ken Donnelly
Assistant director, Aboriginal Relations Office
Human Resources Development Canada
Aboriginal Relations Office/ASEP
140 Promenade du Portage
Phase IV, 5th Floor
Gatineau, Quebec
K1A 0J9
They may also be e-mailed to [email protected].
