WHEREAS the Government of Canada created the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships (ASEP) program in 2003 to increase Aboriginal participation in the Canadian workforce;
AND WHEREAS the ASEP program has been a major success in the Northwest Territories, the Yukon and Nunavut in moving Aboriginal Northerners from social assistance, unemployment and underemployment to full-time, well-paying jobs;
AND WHEREAS the Mine Training Society, Building Inuvialuit Potential Society and the Dehcho First Nations have used $21.5 million in contributions from the ASEP program to assess, train and facilitate employment for Aboriginal Northerners;
AND WHEREAS the partners of these three organizations represent industry and Aboriginal governments;
AND WHEREAS the Government of the Northwest Territories participates, financially supports and contributes to the good works undertaken by these three organizations;
AND WHEREAS the partners of the Mine Training and Building Inuvialuit Potential societies and the Dehcho First Nations have invested an additional $24.3 million of their own resources to match the investment under the ASEP program;
AND WHEREAS the work of these three organizations has resulted in over 900 Aboriginal Northerners obtaining full-time northern employment in the mining, transportation, construction and petroleum exploration sectors;
AND WHEREAS the ASEP program has had a significant positive impact on the economic development of the Northwest Territories;
AND WHEREAS the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships program is to come to an end on March 31, 2012, with no commitment for a replacement program;
NOW THEREFORE I MOVE, seconded by the honourable Member for Monfwi, that the 16th Legislative Assembly strongly urges the Government of Canada to announce the successor strategy to the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnerships program immediately, to ensure that the partners can continue to train Aboriginal Northerners for employment in the mining, transportation, construction and petroleum exploration sectors.
Thank you, Mr. Speaker.