Media.Knet.Ca

Assembly of First Nations press release ...

Assembly of First Nations Expresses Disappointment and Concern Regarding the Vote to Delay Consideration of the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples

OTTAWA, Nov. 28 - Earlier today a motion was passed in Third Committee to delay consideration of the United Nations Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous Peoples, at the UN today.

"First Nations are deeply disappointed and seriously concerned about the potential impact of today's vote at the United Nations affecting the UN Declaration on the Rights of Indigenous peoples", said National Chief Phil Fontaine. "First Nations, and Indigenous peoples, expect that regardless of the outcome of the vote today, we will continue to assert indigenous rights to have full participation in any future discussions affecting the UN Declaration.

"We are outraged by today's developments in the 3rd committee of the United Nations - the human rights of Indigenous Peoples have been sidelined," said Grand Chief Ed John, who is in New York representing the AFN. "This no-action motion was engineered through the political maneuvering of the African Union, aided by Canada, the US, Australia and New Zealand. Canada should be called upon to account for its role in this action, particularly as a member of the Human Rights Council." "This vote is a huge insult to the Human Rights Council, and it undermines the credibility of the new body," added AFN Regional Chief Rick Simon, who is also in New York. "This important human rights instrument has become victim to geo-political pressures wherein powerful first world actors including Canada have used undeveloped Nations to thwart the advancement of human rights for indigenous peoples worldwide."

Canada, in campaigning to become a member of the UN Human Rights Council, pledged to support human rights for all. Canada failed to live up to its promises and responsibilities by actively lobbying other countries to stop the Declaration from becoming a UN instrument to address indigenous poverty, ill-health, despair and hopelessness.

The conduct of all the members of the Human Rights Council are subject to review to ensure they live up to their pledges and responsibilities. Canada's conduct as a member of the Human Rights Council should be reviewed as a result of its blatant discrimination against indigenous peoples.

"It is a double standard for Prime Minister Harper and his government to champion the rights of a segment of the Canadian population through the motion the recognition of the Quebecois as a nation within Canada and then actively oppose and manipulate other countries to oppose indigenous peoples rights including those of the Aboriginal peoples in Canada," said National Chief Fontaine.

AFN delegates are meeting with other Indigenous representatives in New York to discuss the implications of the vote, the position of Indigenous Peoples worldwide, and the potential next steps.

The Assembly of First Nations is the national organization representing First Nations citizens in Canada.

For further information: Bryan Hendry, A/Director of Communications, (613) 241-6789, ext. 229, Cell: (613) 293-6106, bhendry@afn.ca.

Want to add some creative sound effects to your next drama production in your classroom? Do you want to make music using different materials that you can find around your community?

On Saturday Nov 25, members of the K-Net team hosted a video conference introduction to another online teaching resource called the Sonic Playground - http://sonicplayground.ca. The professional development session is intended to be the first in a series of education program strategies that can be supported in classrooms across the province.

The session was hosted by Lyle Johnson (K-Net, Sioux Lookout) and Terry Moreau (Youth IT worker at KORI in Thunder Bay). A group of education professionals from the Martin McKay School in Sachigo Lake participated in this initial information session. Two of the members of Sonic Playground, Barbara  Bryce, and Leslie Wyber introduced their program.

They presented strategies for identifying methods of using everyday items to create musical instruments that can be used to make sound effects for story telling and musical productions.

The team at Sonic Playground are interested in putting together a full program for delivery to First Nation Schools across the province via video conferencing technology with participation from several remote locations.

This initial one hour information session was webcast and archived making it available for online viewing at http://streaming.knet.ca/events/Sonic_Playground_300k.wmv (Windows Media).

For more information about this valuable classroom resource, visit the Sonic Playground web site at http://sonicplayground.ca

Ontario government press release ...

McGuinty Government Helping People Access Apprenticeship - Pre-Apprenticeship Training Opens Doors To The Skilled Trades

OAKVILLE, ON, Nov. 27 - The McGuinty government is creating close to 800 pre-apprenticeship spaces across Ontario to help people qualify for skilled trades training, Chris Bentley, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities, announced today.

"Our government knows that many Ontarians need help to access opportunity," Bentley said. "Pre-apprenticeships open doors for people who want to learn a skilled trade, providing them with skills that can lead to a well-paying, fulfilling career."

Pre-apprenticeship training helps people develop the technical, academic and employment skills they need to succeed in an apprenticeship for a skilled trade. Pre-apprenticeship projects, which include a minimum eight-week work placement, can run for up to 40 weeks.

This year, Ontario is investing more than $7.6 million in 37 new projects that will prepare people who want to become apprentices for training in specific skilled trades. Included are projects for youth, Aboriginal peoples, women and groups traditionally under-represented in apprenticeship programs.

Bentley was joined for today's announcement by Kevin Flynn, MPP Oakville, at Sheridan College Institute of Technology and Advanced Learning where 25 early high-school leavers will receive pre-apprenticeship training in the Industrial Mechanic Millwright trade. The government will provide Sheridan with $257,000 for the project, offered in partnership with the Halton Industry Council, Job Connect and the Peel Halton Dufferin Training Board.

"I am extremely pleased that additional resources are being made available to Sheridan College here in Oakville," said Flynn. "Pre-apprenticeship programs create real opportunities for individuals, and ensure we will have a labour force able to meet the growing demand for skilled workers."

The Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program is helping the government meet its commitment to raise the number of annual apprenticeship registrations to 26,000 in 2007-08.

"Through increased investment from the province, as well as innovative partnerships at the local community level, Sheridan will continue to fulfill our role as an economic development catalyst," said Dr. Robert Turner, Sheridan President and CEO.

Pre-apprenticeship training can be accessed through Employment Ontario, Ontario's training and employment network. Employment Ontario provides integrated training, apprenticeship and labour market services, bringing together about 470 service providers in almost 900 locations funded by the Ontario government.

Information about Employment Ontario services in communities across the province are available online at www.ontario.ca/employmentontario, or by calling 1-800-387-5656.

The government is also working on other initiatives to provide opportunities for Ontarians, including:

- Investing $6.2 billion more in postsecondary education and training by 2009-10 - the most significant multi-year investment in Ontario's higher education system in 40 years

• Investing approximately $100 million annually in Employment Ontario's apprenticeship related programs
• Investing $127 million this year in Employment Ontario's Job Connect services to link employers with both youth and adults, including three new centres with a special focus on helping newcomers.

"By providing more people with a chance to develop the skills needed in today's economy, everyone in Ontario benefits," said Bentley. "Through pre-apprenticeship training, we're helping people take another step toward reaching their potential."

www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca

Backgrounder
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THE PRE-APPRENTICESHIP TRAINING PROGRAM

Pre-apprenticeship helps people who want a career in a specific skilled trade by providing the technical training necessary to enter an apprenticeship in that trade. Pre-apprenticeship programs can last up to 40 weeks and include an eight-week work placement to give each participant real work experience.

Many projects offer participants the opportunity to upgrade their academic skills to meet the academic requirements for the trade in which they are training. Participation in the program is free.

This year, the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program will provide opportunities for 773 people to strengthen their skills and become eligible for an apprenticeship in a specific skilled trade. The government is investing more than $7.6 million in the program to support 37 projects in 19 trades.

The Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program is part of Employment Ontario, the province's integrated training and employment network. Employment Ontario provides seamless, coordinated training, apprenticeship and labour market services, bringing together about 470 service providers in almost 900 locations funded by the government of Ontario.

People interested in participating in the Pre-Apprenticeship Training Program should call the Employment Ontario Hotline at 1-800-387-5656, or 416-326-5656 in the Toronto area, for details about individual projects.

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Skilled trade Funding Amount for 2006-07
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Automotive Service Technician $801,936
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Brick and Stone Mason $164,235
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Construction and Maintenance Electrician $472,743
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Construction Craft Worker $290,874
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Cook - Assistant Branch 1 $1,002,960
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Cook - Branch 2 $467,559
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Early Childhood Educator $165,969
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General Carpenter $1,230,614
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General Machinist/Industrial Mechanic Millwright $170,730
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Glazier/Metal Mechanic $431,562
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Hairstylist $201,413
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Heavy Equipment Operator $157,959
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Horticultural Technician $150,000
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Industrial Mechanic Millwright $257,000
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Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Mechanic $233,983
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Truck and Coach Technician $1,035,458
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Welder $145,347
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Welder and Metal Fabricator $248,816
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TOTAL $7,629,158
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www.edu.gov.on.ca
www.resultsontario.gov.on.ca

For further information: Sheamus Murphy, Minister's Office, (416) 325-7215; Tanya Blazina, Communications Branch, (416) 325-2746; Public Inquiries: (416) 325-2929 or 1-800-387-5514, TTY: 1-800-263-2892

Manitoba government press release ...

Grand Relations Strategy To Support Positive Family Relation With Grandparents, Extended Family

Enhanced Services Strengthen Alternatives to Court: Mackintosh - November 27, 2006

Grandparents and extended family members will have better options and more help to resolve access and guardianship disputes, Family Services and Housing Minister Gord Mackintosh announced today.

“Grandparents, parents and others have told us that we must provide better ways to solve disputes without the financial and emotional burden of contested court hearings and we are responding,” said Mackintosh.

“These initiatives recognize that a child can benefit from a healthy relationship with a grandparent,” said Healthy Living Minister Kerri Irvin-Ross. “We need to support loving relationships between children and their extended families including elders.”

The reforms continue to ensure the child’s best interests remain the overriding consideration in resolving family access disputes while ensuring children’s parents - who have primary responsibility for their well-being - have a voice in proceedings that affect their children, said Mackintosh.

Called Grand Relations, the five-point plan includes:

• Providing a grandparent advisor immediately to help families find the best solutions and services when grandchild access and guardianship is in dispute. The grandparent advisor is available toll-free at 1-800-282-8069, ext. 7236.
• Providing new leading-edge alternatives to court:
  • Piloting First Choice, a new dispute resolution service, as of April 1, 2007, to resolve custody and access-related disputes without a contested court hearing. A Canadian first, this initiative combines mediation and evaluation by using the early attention of a professional two-person team that advises on the likely outcome of a family assessment report in addition to mediating a settlement of outstanding issues.
  • Mandating For the Sake of the Children, the education program for parties to a family dispute where the care of and access to children is in dispute, and enhancing the component of the program relating to the importance of positive grandparent and extended family relations.
  • Developing an Aboriginal model of dispute resolution such as healing circles for out-of-court settlements.
• Proposing legislative changes in the Grandparent Access and Other Amendments Act to:
  • strengthen the recognition in law of grandparents by requiring courts to consider that “a child can benefit from a positive, nurturing relationship with a grandparent” when making an order regarding grandparent access to a grandchild;
  • better facilitate grandparent and other family access by providing, not just an all-or-nothing approach, but also creative solutions for courts, lawyers and families such as certain times for visits, attending activities, sharing gifts and communication, sharing photos and other information;
  • allow courts to adjust orders as a relationship evolves; and
  • allow orders to be made more quickly where appropriate.
• Creating a provincewide education campaign about options to resolve family access disputes that recognizes that children can have many important family relationships.
• Creating a grandparent fostering outreach program, particularly in Aboriginal communities, to alert grandparents to the benefits of becoming foster parents with compensation and supports.

“Grand Relations will help maintain children’s positive relationships with grandparents and others. It builds on Manitoba’s strong government and court initiatives that resolve most family conflicts without an adversarial hearing in court,” said Andrew Swan, MLA, Minto, who led consultations and the development of the reform package.

The province will invest up to $600,000 on a full-year basis including the addition of seven new staff for Grand Relations.

More information is available at http://www.gov.mb.ca/fs/childfam/grandparents_access.html.

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BACKGROUND INFORMATION (Word Doc)