Toronto, Ontario (November 30, 2009) - Daryl Kramp, Member of Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings, on behalf of the Honourable Chuck Strahl, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, together with the Honourable John Milloy, Minister of Training, Colleges and Universities and Leona Dombrowsky, Member of Provincial Parliament for Prince Edward-Hastings, today announced $600,000 to support the First Nations Technical Institute's (FNTI) Moving Forward Plan.
"The Government of Canada is pleased to partner with the Government of Ontario to support FNTI's Moving Forward Plan," said Mr. Kramp. "With this funding and transitional plan, we are confident that the First Nations Technical Institute will evolve into a fully self-sufficient and sustainable educational institution that will continue to play an important role in improving education outcomes for Aboriginal students in Ontario."
"For more than two decades, FNTI has provided Aboriginal students with the training and skills they need to succeed," said Mrs. Dombrowksy. "Together with the Government of Canada, we're working to ensure that FNTI can continue to make a strong contribution to Aboriginal communities by offering a unique, high-quality learning experience to students."
"This funding commitment supports critical internal and external capacity building for FNTI," said Rebecca Jamieson, President and Chief Executive Officer of FNTI and Six Nations Polytechnic. "The program costing model will be an essential management and planning tool as the institute works towards long-term sustainability and recognition."
Indian and Northern Affairs Canada (INAC) and the Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities (TCU) are each providing $300,000 to cost share two projects identified in FNTI's Moving Forward Plan. INAC's contribution will support the institute's organizational development by funding the creation of a program costing model. The model will assist in outlining future program and operational budgets at FNTI. The Province's $300,000 contribution will go towards capacity-building, the development of marketing initiatives and recruitment efforts to generate additional revenue for the institute.
The First Nations Technical Institute is an Aboriginal-owned education and training facility located at the Mohawks of the Bay of Quinte First Nation (Tyendinaga), outside Belleville, Ontario. It delivers post-secondary education and training programs. FNTI was formally established in 1985, with its major goal being to provide the Aboriginal peoples of Canada with access to high quality, job-oriented learning opportunities at the post-secondary level.
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For more information, please contact:
Minister's Office
Michelle Yao
Press Secretary
Office of the Honourable Chuck Strahl
(819) 997-0002
INAC Media Relations
(819) 953-1160
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Ontario Ministry of Training, Colleges and Universities:
Annette Phillips (For media)
Minister's Office
416-326-5748
annette.phillips@ontario.ca
Tanya Blazina (For media)
Communications Branch
416-325-2746
tanya.blazina@ontario.ca
