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Press release

Government of Canada Launches New Aboriginal Skills and Partnership Fund - Canada's Economic Action Plan creates jobs and economic opportunities for Aboriginal workers

Winnipeg, Manitoba - July 16, 2010 - To build a strong and vibrant Aboriginal workforce, the Government of Canada has launched the new Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) and the Skills and Partnership Fund. The Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, made the announcement today on behalf of the Honourable Diane Finley, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development.

"The Government of Canada is building partnerships to ensure Aboriginal people have the opportunity to participate in and contribute to Canada's economy," said Minister Strahl. "The new Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy and the Skills and Partnership Fund are part of our government-wide approach to help First Nations, Métis and Inuit get experience and secure sustainable, meaningful employment. Canada's Economic Action Plan is taking action to create jobs and economic opportunities for Aboriginal workers."

ASETS is an important element of the Federal Framework for Aboriginal Economic Development and will help Aboriginal people receive the training and skills they need, for both now and the long term. ASETS will focus on three strategic priorities: supporting demand-driven skills development; fostering partnerships with the private sector and the provinces and territories; and putting emphasis on accountability and results.

In addition to ASETS, through the Skills and Partnership Fund the Government is investing $210 million over five years. The projects will complement ASETS, providing Aboriginal organizations the opportunity to create new tools and services to help Aboriginal people prepare for, and gain employment in an ever-changing economy.

The Government of Canada, as part of the Economic Action Plan, has taken action to create jobs and opportunities for Aboriginal workers through skills development and training. This included an additional $100 million in support for the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program, and the establishment of the Aboriginal Skills and Training Strategic Investment Fund, worth $75 million over two years.

More information is available on the HRSDC Web site at http://www.hrsdc.gc.ca/eng/home.shtml.

Backgrounder

The Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS)

ASETS is the partnership- and results-based successor strategy to the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy. It is an integrated approach to the Aborignal labour market programming that will link training to labour market demand and ensure that the growing Aboriginal population is able to fully participate in economic opportunities. Through ASETS, the Government of Canada will be providing Aboriginal Agreement Holders with $1.6 billion over five years.

ASETS will begin implementation in 2010 and will focus on three strategic priorities: supporting skills development; fostering partnerships with the private sector, provinces and territories; and putting emphasis on accountability and results. The Government of Canada is working with partners across the country to facilitate the transition and plan for the next five years.

The Skills and Partnership Fund

The Skills and Partnership Fund will be available to all Aboriginal organizations, including those who are not current Aboriginal Agreement Holders. It will create innovative partnership-based projects that increase Aboriginal participation in labour market activities. The projects supported by the Fund will focus on new and emerging opportunities that are flexible and responsive to workforce demands.

For more information, please contact

Office of Minister Finley
Michelle Bakos
Press Secretary
819-994-2482

Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
Media Relations Office
819-994-5559