Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada

The Honourable Denis Lebel, Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, announced that 50 First Nation youth from Ekuanitshit, Unamen Shipu and Pakua Shipi Innu communities, through the Mamit Innuat Tribal Council (Web site not available in English), in Quebec will receive personalized job readiness supports.

Across the country, First Nation youth from 70 communities are currently participating and succeeding in job readiness activities. These measures are designed to ensure that participating youth are equipped with the tools and opportunities they need to increase their employability so they can successfully reach their goals and reduce reliance on Income Assistance.

This past summer, Minister Valcourt and Parliamentary Secretary Mark Strahl held roundtables across the country to hear from First Nation youth already participating in job readiness activities and to learn how they are benefiting from the program. By investing in First Nation youth, our Government is taking concrete steps to help build more prosperous, self-sufficient First Nation communities.

Quick facts:

• In Quebec there are now 10 First Nations who are taking advantage of this program: Nation Anishnabe de Lac Simon, Innus de Ekuanitshit, Montagnais de Unamen Shipu, Montagnais de Pakua Shipi, Innus de Pessamit, Listuguj Mi'gmaq Government, Innu Takuaikan Uashat mak Mani-Utenam, Mohawk Council of Kahnawake, Atikamekw de Manawan and the Conseil des Montagnais du Lac-St-Jean–Mashteuiatsh.
• First Nation youth on-reserve, who are between the ages of 18 and 24, are receiving personalized job and skills training as part of changes to the Income Assistance program. Economic Action Plan 2013 included $132 million to support Enhanced Service Delivery and $109 million for the First Nations Job Fund.
• Participants have access to a range of services and programs aimed at increasing their job prospects and supporting them as they move into the workforce, including: basic life-skills and literacy training, skills training and career counseling.
• This year, 4,606 First Nation youth are taking advantage of Enhanced Service Delivery, which provides a case-management approach to indentifying barriers they may face in obtaining a job and establishes a plan to overcome them.

Quotes:

"Our Government firmly believes that First Nations should have the same opportunities as all Canadians to find, keep and enjoy the benefits of a good job; that’s why this program is so important. It provides personalized job readiness support for First Nation youth associated with the Mamit Innuat Tribal Council, and across the country, so they can successfully take advantage of the economic prosperity of this country."

- Bernard Valcourt
Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

"Our Government continues to take concrete steps to create the conditions for prosperous, self-sufficient First Nation communities. Investing in personalized job readiness support will lead to greater First Nation participation in the economy, healthier First Nation communities and a stronger Canada."

- Denis Lebel
Minister of Infrastructure, Communities and Intergovernmental Affairs, Minister of the Economic Development Agency of Canada for the Regions of Quebec

"We are proud to be part of the new wave that will give young clients between the ages of 18 and 24 of our member communities, access to services and training which will steer them toward the labour market. We are anxious to begin work and tackle the many challenges that we will face, including the geographical isolation of the two communities."

- André Lajoie
Director General, Mamit Innuat Tribal Council