Harper Government invests in personalized Job Readiness Support for First Nation Youth

OTTAWA, Jan. 21, 2015 /CNW/ - The Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, announced that 210 First Nation youth associated with the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council in Saskatchewan will receive personalized job readiness supports.

Across the country, First Nation youth from 70 communities are currently participating and succeeding in job readiness activities. These measures are designed to ensure that participating youth are equipped with the tools and opportunities they need to increase their employability so they can successfully reach their goals and reduce reliance on Income Assistance.  

This past summer, Minister Valcourt and Parliamentary Secretary Mark Strahl held roundtables across the country to hear from First Nation youth already participating in job readiness activities and to learn how they are benefiting from the program. By investing in First Nation youth, our Government is taking concrete steps to help build more prosperous, self-sufficient First Nation communities.

Quick Facts

• In Saskatchewan, 28 First Nations are currently active in the program. With the new additions, a total of 41 First Nations will be taking advantage of this program for youth in their communities.
• First Nation youth on-reserve, who are between the ages of 18 and 24, are receiving personalized job and skills training as part of changes to the Income Assistance program. Economic Action Plan 2013 included $132 million to support Enhanced Service Delivery and $109 million for the First Nations Job Fund.
• Participants have access to a range of services and programs aimed at increasing their job prospects and supporting them as they move into the workforce, including: basic life-skills and literacy training, skills training and career counseling.
• This year, 4,606 First Nation youth are taking advantage of Enhanced Service Delivery, which provides a case-management approach to indentifying barriers they may face in obtaining a job and establishes a plan to overcome them.

Quotes

"Our Government firmly believes that First Nations should have the same opportunities as all Canadians to find, keep and enjoy the benefits of a good job; that's why this program is so important. It provides personalized job readiness support for First Nation youth associated with the File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, and across the country, so they can successfully take advantage of the economic prosperity of this country."

Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"The File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council are looking forward to providing our youth the opportunity to overcome barriers to employment through individualized service delivery and action planning that will prepare the youth to enter the workforce"

Elaine Chicoose
Vice Chairperson, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council

Related Products

New First Nations Entrants participating in Skills and Job Training Activities in Quebec and Saskatchewan 
Backgrounder – Improving Income Assistance 
Success Stories of First Nations Youth participating in Skills and Job Training activities 
Backgrounder – Enhanced Service Delivery
Video - Connecting Youth with Jobs: Reforming Income Assistance
January 31, 2014 – Harper Government Connects First Nation Youth with Personalized Skills and Training

Associated Links

Skills and Job Training: Income Assistance Program 
Skills and Job Training for First Nation Youth: Roundtables 
First Nations Job Fund
June 12, 2013 – Harper Government Invests in Skills & Training for First Nation Youth

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SOURCE Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

For further information: 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; Cherish Francis, Communications Specialist, File Hills Qu'Appelle Tribal Council, 306-552-4433