Government of Canada highlights funding to support First Nations workers in the construction industry
News release
February 21, 2023 Gatineau, Quebec Employment and Social Development Canada
The construction sector has been hit hard by ongoing skills and labour shortages. The Government of Canada has a plan to support hard-hit sectors, help businesses adapt and thrive, and give Canadians the skills they need to find good jobs as the economy continues to recover.
Today, Sophie Chatel, Member of Parliament for Pontiac, on behalf of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, highlighted that the Government of Canada provided over $2.3 million in funding through the Sectoral Initiatives Program to Decontie Milestone Inc. for the Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce project. This project will develop a workforce management database to assist First Nations with their construction-related labour market information. It will establish resources to help employers recruit and retain First Nations workers in the construction sector. It will also support the certification of First Nations workers, while raising awareness among First Nations communities of opportunities within the construction sector.
These investments, made under the Sectoral Initiatives Program, are contributing to building a diverse and inclusive workforce and help organizations adapt and thrive in a rapidly evolving labour market. Working in collaboration with organizations, employers, and sectors, the Government of Canada will help equip Canadians with the skills they need, helping them find good jobs and supporting a strong and inclusive economic recovery.
In 2022, the Sectoral Initiatives Program was folded into the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, which has an expanded scope for large-scale projects that offer a broader range of supports to train workers and help employers develop practical and effective solutions.
First announced in Budget 2021, the Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program helps key sectors of the economy implement solutions to address their current and emerging workforce needs by funding organizations to deliver projects that focus on a range of industry-driven activities. These activities include training and reskilling workers, helping employers retain and attract a skilled and diverse workforce, and other creative solutions to help sectors address labour market needs. It also supports equity-deserving groups by promoting a diverse and inclusive workforce and providing wraparound supports as needed to those facing barriers to participation.
Quotes
“The Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce project is building a stronger and more inclusive workforce. Through funding from our government’s Sectoral Initiatives Program, this project’s new case management model will make it easier for Algonquin employment organizations to create more opportunities for tradespeople from their Nation. This will not only help Algonquin Anishinabe tradespeople find and keep good jobs, it’s also an important step toward creating more economic opportunity for Indigenous Peoples.”
– Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough
“Through the Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce project, our government is helping to create more opportunities for First Nations workers in the construction industry. I’m proud to be a part of this exciting announcement about a project that will help connect members of our community with high-quality job opportunities.”
– Sophie Chatel, Member of Parliament for Pontiac
“Our community is a proud partner of the Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce project. The case management model is an innovative and long-overdue tool that will support the successful integration of our members into the construction industry.”
– Chief Dylan Whiteduck, Kitigan Zibi Anishinabeg
“With this database, our community—the leaders and front-line workers—will be better equipped to support our members with their employment needs, making it easier for them to take on construction projects within our community and within our Territory.”
– Ketty-Rose Mitchell, General Director, Conseil de la Nation Anishnabe de Lac Simon
“Decontie Milestone Inc. are proud receipients of the funding provided by the Government of Canada to help advance our Algonquin Anishinabe’s construction industry. Our unprecedented case management model will serve as a very important tool to improve the visibility of our workforces on our territories, create innovative collaborations and initiate significant socio-economic change.”
– Wanda Thusky, Director General, Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce
Quick facts
-
Decontie Construction is an Algonquin-owned and operated licensed construction company, with a mission and a vision of advancing the interests of the First Nations construction workforce and making the public aware of the exceptional talents of this workforce. Decontie Milestone Inc. has received an investment of $2,378,812 for its Pathway to Strengthening the Algonquin Anishinabe Workforce project.
-
The Sectoral Initiatives Program has been integrated into the new Sectoral Workforce Solutions Program, to help workers and employers by supporting solutions to address current and emerging workforce needs in key sectors, including:
- building talent for Canada’s clean economy;
- supporting needs of workers and employers hardest hit by the pandemic; and
- addressing challenges faced by in-demand health care occupations.
-
As of fall 2022, Canadian employers were seeking to fill more than 1 million job vacancies. A significant number of vacancies (243,400) are in the professional, scientific, technical, construction and manufacturing sectors, which were already seeing shortages before the pandemic.
-
It is anticipated that, by 2027, almost 156,000 workers in the construction sector will retire, exacerbating labour shortages.
Associated links
Contacts
For media enquiries, please contact:
Tara Beauport
Press Secretary
Office of the Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough
tara.beauport@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
343-576-1628
Media Relations Office
Employment and Social Development Canada
819-994-5559
media@hrsdc-rhdcc.gc.ca
Follow us on Twitter
Page details
- Date modified: