Minister of Aboriginal Affairs Bernard Valcourt responds to a question during question period in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa on Tuesday, June 11, 2013. Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt says new funding will help aboriginals get off welfare. Valcourt was in Saskatoon on Wednesday where he announced $241 million to help aboriginals achieve the same job opportunities as all Canadians. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Sean Kilpatrick
June 13, 2013 - 5:21 AM
SASKATOON - Federal Aboriginal Affairs Minister Bernard Valcourt says new funding will help aboriginals get off welfare.
Valcourt was in Saskatoon on Wednesday where he announced $241 million to help aboriginals achieve the same job opportunities as all Canadians.
Saskatchewan Tribal Council Chief Felix Thomas says the money will help get welfare numbers down for aboriginals, a major issue for all First Nations across Canada.
He also says it will help improve quality of life for everyone in the province.
More than half the money will go to enhanced service delivery.
First Nations taking part will have all of their 18 to 24 year olds under the Income Assistance Program undergo personalized case management to help overcome their barriers to employment.
Valcourt says the rest of the money will go toward access to skills training, education, and career counselling programs for those youth.
The services offered through the funding will be mandatory for all youth between the ages of 18 and 24 in the First Nations that choose to take part.
(CJWW)
News from © The Canadian Press, 2013