Enabling Aboriginal people to take full advantage of the Canadian economy
PRINCE ALBERT, SK, Feb. 20, 2015 /CNW/ - Randy Hoback, Member of Parliament Prince Albert, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced that the Government of Canada is helping increase jobs and opportunities for urban Aboriginal people living in Saskatchewan.
Through the National Association of Friendship Centres, the Government of Canada 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.
Hoback congratulated West Flat Citizens Group on receiving $120,000 in federal funds which will help them build improved partnerships that understand the issues facing the local Aboriginal population 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 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
- On February 6, 2014, the Government of Canada announced an improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy that supports urban Aboriginal programming through the new Community Capacity Support program. This program is delivered through the National Association of Friendship Centres.
- These organizations were selected through an adjudicated call for proposals process that was administered by the National Association of Friendship Centres.
- According to 2011 Census data, 56 per cent of all Aboriginal people in Canada live in urban areas.
Quotes
"I am proud that our Government is supporting the West Flat Citizens Group, an organization directly supporting Aboriginal youth and other program participants in the Prince Albert community. With this investment the organization can focus on programs supporting childcare, child nutrition, education and literacy programs available to Aboriginal participants. The Urban Aboriginal Strategy is about supporting the measures that help create jobs for Aboriginal people and encourage their participation in the economy for their benefit and for the communities in which they live."
Randy Hoback
Member of Parliament for Prince Albert
"We welcome the West Flat Citizens Group Inc. into the Friendship Centre network of wrap-around service delivery under the realigned Urban Aboriginal Strategy. With this addition, we increase our reach and ability to address the needs of Aboriginal people in the Prince Albert area."
Jeffrey Cyr
Executive Director, National Association of Friendship Centres
"We are humbled and proud to be the first recipients of this funding within our Province. We look forward to enhancing our current services and expanding in others. This contribution will support the West Flat Citizens Group Inc. and partners in providing services to our West Flat Community, the City of Prince Albert and surrounding area."
Dawn Robins
Executive Director, West Flat Citizens Group
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
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 Canada, 819-953-1160; Alysha Akoodie, Communications and Social Media Officer, National Association of Friendship Centres, 613-563-4844; Dawn Robins, Executive Director, West Flat Citizens Group, 306-763 9378; You can subscribe to receive our news releases and speeches via RSS feeds or e-mail. For more information or to subscribe, visit www.aandc.gc.ca/subscriptions.
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