Date: June 12, 2013
Canada's young First Nation population has tremendous potential for long-term success and economic prosperity, but remains underrepresented in the job market.
To help ensure First Nation youth can access the skills and training they need to secure employment, Economic Action Plan 2013 introduced a four-year investment of $241 million to improve the on-reserve Income Assistance Program, of which $109 million will be invested in the new First Nations Job Fund.
In partnership with First Nation on-reserve communities, the Government of Canada will, through the First Nations Job Fund, provide personalized job training to young Income Assistance clients aged 18-24 to help them connect with available jobs.
Administered by Human Resources and Skills Development Canada, the First Nations Job Fund will be implemented across the country with participating communities over the next four years. The Fund will support the same activities that are eligible under the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) but it will be exclusively aimed at helping First Nation Income Assistance clients secure employment. These activities will include:
- skills assessment testing and development of return-to-work action plans;
- payment for training courses or necessary equipment (e.g. work boots, tools);
- temporary supplementary living expenses while in training, and transportation to training;
- job coaching and mentoring support;
- on-the-job supports for those challenged by language or disabilities;
- workshops in resumé preparation and interview skills, or help with job searches;
- wage subsidies to incent employers to hire Aboriginal workers so they can gain work experience; and
- specific skills development and training to help individuals become self-employed.
While the First Nations Job Fund is separate from the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Strategy (ASETS), it is designed to be implemented using the ASETS infrastructure. To the extent possible, ASETS agreement holders will deliver the training-to-employment activities under this initiative. ASETS supports over 80 Aboriginal organizations throughout Canada and delivers services that prepare First Nation, Métis and Inuit individuals to succeed in the workforce. ASETS agreement holders design and deliver employment programs and services best suited to the unique needs of individuals in their respective regions.
The First Nations Job Fund complements the introduction of Enhanced Service Delivery and will be accessed by Income Assistance clients who have participated in the case management system put in place by First Nations and their service providers under that initiative.
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC) also currently supports Aboriginal participation in the labour market through the Skills and Partnership Fund (SPF). Announced in 2010 with funding of $210 million over five years (2010–2015), the SPF is a flexible, project-based funding program designed to encourage innovation and partnerships, test new approaches to the delivery of employment services, and address systemic gaps in service delivery.
