Opening of the Atoskewin Success Centre

Speaking Notes for the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, PC, MP, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development

For delivery at the opening of the Atoskewin Success Centre

September 25, 2013
North Battleford, Saskatchewan

Check against delivery

Good morning.

I am honoured to be here in Treaty Six territory today for this exciting event.

Since my appointment as Minister of Aboriginal Affairs almost seven months ago, I have traveled to Aboriginal communities from coast to coast to coast, meeting with community members, leaders and youth.

And while it is clear that progress is being made to improve living conditions and create economic opportunities for Canada’s Aboriginal people, much work remains to be done if we are to achieve the change that we all want to see.

I am referring to the kind of change that will level the playing field for First Nations so that they can have the same opportunities available to other Canadians to find, keep and reap the benefits of a good job.

Given the rate at which the Aboriginal population is growing in Canada, I am encouraged by the positive responses I have heard from leaders across Canada regarding the need to work together to help First Nation youth achieve their full potential.

And we are in agreement on one key issue: we owe it to First Nation youth to end the cycle of dependency and create real opportunities, beginning with education and job and skills training, so that they can find and keep a good job.

That’s why I am pleased to be here for the opening of the Atoskewin Success Centre, which will provide access to social development, employment and training opportunities to its member First Nations. It represents the first centre of its kind in Saskatchewan, offering one-stop access to services for clients.

And is delivering the kind of results a community can get behind. Already, 225 clients have found new sources of income, reducing their dependence on Income Assistance.

As some of you may remember, I was in Saskatchewan in June to announce our Government’s investments in skills training for on-reserve Income Assistance recipients.

Through Economic Action Plan 2013, our government is investing $241 million over four years to help young First Nations members access training opportunities that will open the door to greater participation in the labour market. In turn, that will lead to greater self-sufficiency, and healthier, more self-sufficient communities.

Over the next four years, this new approach to income assistance improvements will focus on supporting approximately 14,000 First Nation individuals aged 18-24 to become more employable.

This additional investment will help First Nations and First Nation service providers move away from the current model of income assistance, which focuses solely on assessment of eligibility and payment of benefits, and towards an approach that focuses on identifying individuals' employment readiness and the jobs and skills training they require to actually find and keep a job. It also provides targeted investments, through a First Nations Job Fund, for demand-driven training opportunities.

Our investments will require that we work closely with willing First Nations and will fund a range of activities including; skills assessments, training, job coaching, and a number of labour market training supports for young recipients. For those communities that choose to participate, Income Assistance benefits for youth between 18 and 24 will depend on participation in the necessary training as per current practice in most provinces.

In addition, the Government will provide support to First Nation communities to enhance service delivery to effectively support and ensure that eligible youth participate in the training necessary for them to gain employment.

Our approach will build on the success of pilot projects like those here in Saskatchewan and Alberta where we’ve been working with the provincial governments, First Nations and the private sector to link First Nations with the training they require to meet labour market needs.

Our government has listened and is listening, but, more importantly, we are acting. We are working with partners in the provinces and in First Nations to create the change that you have been calling for – a change that will lead to greater First Nation participation in the economy, which will lead to healthier, self-sufficient First Nation communities, and a stronger Canada.

Thank you.