October 1, 2004
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Government of Canada announces funding for the Northwest Territories Oil and Gas Aboriginal Skills Development Strategy
INUVIK, NORTHWEST TERRITORIES-The Honourable Ethel Blondin-Andrew, Minister of State (Northern Development), on behalf of the Honourable Joe Volpe, Minister of Human Resources and Skills Development, today announced federal funding of up to $9.9 million for the Northwest Territories Oil and Gas Aboriginal Skills Development Strategy as part of Human Resources and Skills Development Canada's Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program.
"This initiative will allow Aboriginal peoples to be partners in major economic initiatives that lead to sustainable and meaningful employment opportunities, along with lasting benefits for Aboriginal communities, families and individuals," said Minister of State Blondin-Andrew.
Combined funding from all partners will total $13.3 million, and is expected to result in training for 1,400 Aboriginal participants and worthwhile, sustainable employment for 500 in the oil and gas industry. The oil and gas industry has a great potential to significantly increase long-term employment and business opportunities for Northern Aboriginal peoples, strengthen the Canadian economy and benefit major sectors such as business services; wholesale and retail trade; transportation, communication and utilities; construction; manufacturing; and services incidental to oil and gas.
"Each partner in this initiative is willing to contribute, not only in terms of direct financial resources, but also in terms of human resources and expertise required to make the training work," added Minister of State Blondin-Andrew. "This partnership is something of which we can all be proud."
The initiative was proposed by the Aboriginal Futures Society, a non-profit organization forming the partnership consortium, which consists of the Deh Cho First Nations, Sahtu Dene Council, Gwich'in Tribal Council, Inuvialuit Regional Corporation, the Department of Education, Culture and Employment of the NWT, the Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Corporation, Shell Canada Limited, Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited and ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Limited.
Today's announcement, convened at the new Aurora College campus in Inuvik, marks the start-up of the four-year training and skills development initiative that will enable Aboriginal peoples in the Northwest Territories to acquire transferable skills and take advantage of employment opportunities in the oil and gas industry throughout the Northwest Territories.
The Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program is part of the Government of Canada's commitment to working with Aboriginal groups and other stakeholders to provide high quality, culturally relevant education for Aboriginal learners that will help them to achieve their educational needs and aspirations.
This program complements the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy, the five-year initiative that began in 1999 and whose renewal was confirmed in the 2004 Speech from the Throne, and re-affirmed in this year's federal Budget.
This initiative complies with all departmental administrative rules governing grants and contributions, and provisions of the Financial Administration Act, and is subject to review to ensure compliance with the objectives of the program.
For more information:
Media Relations Office
Human Resources and Skills Development Canada
(819) 994-5559
NORTHWEST TERRITORIES OIL AND GAS ABORIGINAL SKILLS DEVELOPMENT STRATEGY UNDER THE ABORIGINAL SKILLS AND EMPLOYMENT PARTNERSHIP
The Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) program is a five-year initiative with total funding of $85 million. Its overall objective is sustainable employment for Aboriginal peoples in major economic initiatives such as Northern mining, oil and gas, and hydro development projects across Canada, leading to lasting benefits for Aboriginal communities, families and individuals.
ASEP funding proposals are submitted by a partnership consortium, which may include parties from the private sector, Aboriginal groups, and the province or territory where the large economic or resource-based project is located. Other key partners include learning institutions, sector councils, labour, and other Government of Canada departments or agencies. Each partnership consortium must set out a comprehensive training-to-employment plan for Aboriginal peoples that links skills development to specific job opportunities in Aboriginal communities.
A significant amount of funding for a project is expected from the private sector; the Government of Canada's normal contribution to a proposal will not exceed 75 percent. The private sector must also demonstrate, at minimum, the creation of 50 long-term sustainable jobs for Aboriginal peoples at the completion of funding from Human Resources and Skills Development Canada (HRSDC).
As part of the ASEP program, the Northwest Territories Oil and Gas Aboriginal Skills Development Strategy is among the first five projects approved for funding from the proposals since the launch of ASEP in October 2003.
Northwest Territories Oil and Gas Aboriginal Skills Development Strategy
In the past few years, the Northern economy has seen a dramatic increase to exploration and development activities related to the energy sector. The proposed Mackenzie Gas Project and associated developments, which is set to operate within the traditional territories of the Inuvialuit, Gwich'in, Sahtu and Deh Cho regions, has a great potential to provide significantly increased employment and business opportunities for Northern Aboriginal peoples.
The training-to-employment plan includes basic skills and pre-employment individual skills as noted below:
- Basic Skills and Pre-Employment-to address the challenges of education, literacy skills, as well as job and life skills;
- Industrial Skills Development-to deliver the explicit knowledge and skills required for specific jobs in the oil and gas sector; and
- Employment Support-to provide the necessary supports to participants throughout the skills development process.
Partnership:
This initiative was proposed by the Aboriginal Futures Society, a non-profit organization. The Skills Development Strategy will be managed and administered by a single, integrated body under the direction of the Directors of Aboriginal Futures.
The Aboriginal Futures Society partnership consortium consists of the following groups:
Aboriginal:
- Deh Cho First Nations
- Sahtu Dene Council
- Gwich'in Tribal Council
- Inuvialuit Regional Corporation
Industry:
- The Mackenzie Valley Aboriginal Pipeline Corporation
- Shell Canada Limited
- Imperial Oil Resources Ventures Limited
- ConocoPhillips Canada (North) Limited
Government:
- Government of the NWT- Department of Education, Culture and Employment
Funding:
The total estimated budget for the Northwest Oil and Gas initiative is $13.3 million, of which $9.9 million would be directly available under HRSDC's ASEP program through a contribution agreement.