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CANADA'S NEW GOVERNMENT SIGNS AGREEMENT WITH TWO NOVA SCOTIA ORGANIZATIONS TO INCREASE ABORIGINAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES

HALIFAX (November 24, 2006) - The Honourable Jim Prentice, Minister of Indian Affairs and Northern Development and Federal Interlocutor for Métis and Non-Status Indians, Janet Hazelton, President of the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union, and David Miller, Chairperson of the Trucking Human Resource Sector Council, today signed an agreement to work together in the development of a partnership for Aboriginal employment

"Partnerships such as these will assist in providing important information to the Aboriginal workforce in the promotion of current and future employment opportunities within the Province of Nova Scotia," said Minister Prentice. "This will enable Aboriginal organizations to plan ahead and develop training plans that will lead to the creation of a larger skilled Aboriginal workforce. The goal is to remove the obstacles that separate employers and employees, and attract enthusiastic Aboriginal employees to the nursing and trucking sectors."

The parties agree to work to promote and facilitate employment of Aboriginal persons within their respective organization at all levels; facilitate constructive cultural relations; enhance linkages to the Aboriginal labour force; promote employment, retention and career development opportunities for Aboriginal people; identify potential business development initiatives; and develop an action plan laying out both short- and long-term employment strategies.

Through this agreement and the establishment of a steering committee, the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union and the Trucking Human Resource Sector Council will conduct an inventory of their workplaces and identify areas where they may have current or future vacancies.

The Government of Canada, through the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative (AWPI), will help communicate this information to Aboriginal organizations that will in turn use it to develop training programs, help people make informed career choices and take advantage of business opportunities.

As part of their commitment to make the Trucking Sector Council and the Nova Scotia Nurses' Union employers of choice for Aboriginal people, the organizations will also identify other economic development and purchasing opportunities, as well as review company human resource practices, in order to improve opportunities.

"The Nova Scotia Nurses' Union is very pleased to be signing this agreement," said Ms. Hazelton. "We are eager to work with our partners to support a labour environment that is representational - a workplace that promotes and appreciates diversity and welcomes young Aboriginal men and women to the nursing profession. The Nurses' Union is thrilled at the prospect of recruiting potential nursing students from within the Aboriginal community."

"The trucking industry in Atlantic Canada is facing a shortage of skilled workers throughout our industry," said Mr. Miller. "This agreement presents us with the foundation blocks with which we will begin to build a strategic partnership to attract and retain Aboriginal people within the trucking industry. We are proud to be embarking on this partnership with the Aboriginal community."

Also signatories to the agreement were Donald Julien, Executive Director of the Confederacy of Mainland Mi'kmaq, Chief Deborah Robinson, of the Union of Nova Scotia Indians, and Grace Conrad, Chief and President of the Native Council of Nova Scotia.

For more information, please contact:

Patricia Ellis
INAC Communications
Atlantic Region
(902) 661-6232

Janet Hazelton
President, Nova Scotia Nurses' Union
(902) 456-2084

Kelly Henderson
Executive Director
Trucking Human Resource Sector Council
(902) 893-8410

What is the Aboriginal Workforce Participation Initiative?

Nova Scotia Nurses' Union

Trucking Human Resource Sector Council

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