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Ontario investing $500,000 in summer jobs for Aboriginal youth

June 30, 2006 - 6:27am | by Anonymous

From http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/csb/news/2006/jun27nr_06.html

McGUINTY GOVERNMENT HELPING ABORIGINAL YOUTH GAIN JOB SKILLS - Invests $500,000 For Jobs And Training

THUNDER BAY, June 27, 2006 — The McGuinty government is investing more than $500,000 for summer jobs and training for Aboriginal youth, Minister of Natural Resources and Aboriginal Affairs David Ramsay announced today.

"Aboriginal youth represent a large and increasing percentage of the future workforce in northern Ontario," said Ramsay. "These programs introduce aboriginal young people to resource management, provide a forestry-oriented training and work experience and the opportunity to further develop life skills."

The Ministry of Natural Resources, in partnership with Confederation College and the forest industry, coordinates and administers the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program. Aboriginal youth from First Nations communities in Northern Ontario work on forestry projects like tree planting. They also receive workplace training and take personal development workshops.

Another program, the Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange Program, being piloted this summer provides young Aboriginal people with work placements over three summers with a focus on resource management projects. Two placements are with the Ministry of Natural Resources and the other is with a First Nations community.

The Ministry of Government Services is funding 20 positions in the Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange program - 10 in northeastern Ontario and 10 in northwestern Ontario.

"This program gives young people the skills they need to positively contribute to the economy and sustainability of their communities and regions," said Minister of Government Services Gerry Phillips.

These Aboriginal youth employment programs are among the ways the McGuinty government supports opportunities for young people and for people in northern Ontario. Other initiatives include:

  • Creating 75,000 more opportunities in postsecondary education for qualified students
  • Creating 1,000 skilled trades training spaces
    Investing $15.4 million to keep good schools open and $6.6 million to repair and improve schools in northern Ontario.

Related Information

ABORIGINAL YOUTH EMPLOYMENT PROGRAMS
Backgrounder - from http://www.mnr.gov.on.ca/MNR/csb/news/2006/jun27bg_06.html

Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange Pilot Program

  • Administered jointly by the Ministry of Natural Resources and the Ministry of Government Services
  • $169,000 from Ministry of Government Services for 20 placements annually for three years
  • Aboriginal students aged 15 to 24 (up to 29 if disabled)
  • Three consecutive work terms of summer employment- two with the Ministry of Natural Resources and one in a First Nations community
  • Each work term is eight weeks
  • The ministry funds and delivers job skills readiness training for participants
  • Aims to provide Aboriginal youth with advanced training, job skills, networks and experience to support potential future careers in natural resources occupations and/or the Ontario Public Service.

First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program (First Nation Ranger program)

  • Total of $360,000 from the Ontario government over two years: 2006 and 2007
  • Two-summer program
  • 30 young people placed in each of 2006 and 2007
    Partnership between Ministry of Natural Resources, Ontario Secretariat for Aboriginal Affairs, Confederation College and several forest companies including Bowater
  • Goal is to encourage First Nation youth to pro-actively engage in their future career aspirations through a commitment to employment, training and education and to build capacity among First Nations youth for their future participation in forest-related/natural resources occupations.
  • Since 2000, 165 youth, representing 26 First Nation communities, have participated in the First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program.

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Media Enquiries
Karen Gowanlock
Ministry of Natural Resources
Aboriginal Youth Work Exchange Program
705-755-2041

Brian Kurrika
Confederation College Forestry Centre
First Nations Natural Resources Youth Employment Program
807-475-6643

FOR MORE INFORMATION

Media Enquiries
Barry Radford
Communications Services Branch
416- 314-2103

General Enquiries
 
Natural Resources Information Centre
1-800-667-1940
TTY 1-866-686-6072 (Hearing Impaired)

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