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Aboriginal Labour Market Programs

HRSDC, through its Aboriginal Affairs Directorate (AAD) is responsible for the policy and program design of Aboriginal labour market programming. AAD, with the assistance of Service Canada, is responsible for the administration and management of service delivery for the Government of Canada’s two major Aboriginal labour market programs:  the Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS) and the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership program (ASEP). 

The AHRDS is a $1.6 billion initiative launched in 1999 and was subsequently renewed at the same level of funding until March 31, 2009. AHRDS includes 80 First Nation, Inuit and Métis Agreement Holders (AHRDAs) and some 220 sub-agreement holders across the ten provinces and three territories.   The AHRDS is a community-based strategy designed to help Aboriginal people prepare for, obtain and maintain employment.  Under this Strategy, Aboriginal organizations design and deliver employment programs and services best suited to meet the unique needs of their communities.

ASEP is an $85 million multi-year funding, opportunity-driven initiative launched in 2003 to provide Aboriginal people with sustainable jobs and careers in major economic development ventures underway across Canada in the mining, oil and gas, construction, forestry, and hydroelectric industry.

• Aboriginal Human Resources Development Strategy (AHRDS)
• Aboriginal Skills Employment Partnership (ASEP)