Description

The Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS) was originally approved in 1999 for a five-year period with $1.6B committed for labour market and skills development. In the Fall of 2003, AHRDS was approved for another five years (2004-09). The AHRDS is a pan-Aboriginal human resources and skills development strategy that provides support to Aboriginal organizations (80 Human Resources Development Agreement holders to date), to design and deliver :

• labour market development programs to assist Aboriginal people, including Aboriginal persons with disabilities, prepare for, obtain, and maintain meaningful and sustainable employment;
• special programs to assist Aboriginal youth make successful transitions from school to work or to support their return to school; and
• child care programs.

As part of a broader Aboriginal agenda, the AHRDS will assist to improve Aboriginal people's skills, facilitate their participation in the labour market, and, thus, close the gap in employment outcomes between Aboriginal and non-Aboriginal people.

Shared Outcome(s)

• Assist Aboriginal clients to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment, thereby resulting in Employment Insurance and Social Assistance unpaid benefits.
• Assist Aboriginal youth to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment and to make a successful transition into the labour market, thereby resulting in increased employment.
• Assist Aboriginal persons with disabilities to prepare for, obtain and maintain employment.
• Increase the supply of quality child care services in First Nations and Inuit communities, thereby raising the availability of distinct and diverse services in these communities to a level comparable to that of the general population.

Governance Structures

• AHRDS agreements are managed by Service Canada
• The governance structure is being reviewed as part of the renewal process and will be reported in the Departmental Performance Report.
• Another component of the AHRDS is the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Council, launched in January 1998, to enable Aboriginal organizations to build a broad network with leaders of the federal and provincial government and the private sector. Private-sector leadership is at the core of the Council and leaders from key economic sectors work in partnership as champions of the Council and its issues.

Partners

HRSDC led partnerships with 80 Aboriginal Human Resources Development Agreements (AHRDA) signed with National, regional and sub-regional Aboriginal organizations

Contact

Keith Conn
Director General,
Aboriginal Affairs,
Employment Programs
Policy and Design