Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, on behalf of the Honourable Bernard Valcourt, Minister of Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced that the Government of Canada is helping increase jobs and opportunities for urban Aboriginal people living in British Colombia.
Through the National Association of Friendship Centres, these strategic community investments are designed to enhance the participation of urban Aboriginal people in their local economies.
A number of organizations across Canada are receiving support for projects that aim to promote skills and training, entrepreneurship and supporting Aboriginal women, children and families.
McLeod congratulated the North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society for receiving $120,000 which will help them build improved partnerships that understand the issues facing the local Aboriginal population while working to encourage growth in numbers of Aboriginal people in the workforce, and increase support for trained, skilled workers.
The improved Urban Aboriginal Strategy recognizes the important role urban Aboriginal organizations play, and further helps to promote community engagement, planning and partnerships with the goal of increasing the participation of urban Aboriginal people in the Canadian economy.
“I am proud that Canada is supporting the North Thompson Aboriginal Cultural Centre Society so that they can offer programs that provide Aboriginal youth with valuable skills, training and experience in the local tourism industry, and in a culturally sensitive way,” said Cathy McLeod, Member of Parliament for Kamloops-Thompson-Cariboo, “Our Government’s Urban Aboriginal Strategy is about supporting the measures that help create jobs for Aboriginal people and encourage their participation in the economy for their benefit and for the communities in which they live.”