Witnesses appearing before the Committee were consistent in their view about the benefits flowing from the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy (ASETS) program. Based on the strong support from a broad spectrum of witnesses, the Committee recommends that the federal government renew the ASETS for at least another five years at the end of its current term. The skills development and training offered under this strategy have helped Aboriginal people to prepare for, find and maintain employment. Programs offered under ASETS assist in upgrading the skills of Aboriginal people and in providing high-quality training that can help them overcome barriers to meaningful employment.

The majority of witnesses who appeared before the Committee shared many success stories with us. A common theme among them is that Aboriginal people have a better chance at success when programming is offered near or in their own communities, by Aboriginal trainers and service delivery organizations.

Witnesses also spoke to the Committee about barriers that many Aboriginal people must overcome before they can contemplate seeking employment. The main hurdle, we were told, remains addressing the education gap between Aboriginal people and their non-Aboriginal counterparts. While the completion rates of secondary education are persistently low, equally troubling is that many Aboriginal people who do graduate from high school still often lack the necessary essential skills to successfully integrate into the labour market or successfully pursue post-secondary education. For this reason, the Committee recommends that a portion of ASETS funding cover the cost of developing essential skills and upgrading to high-school-equivalency to facilitate entry to post-secondary education or employment.

The Committee heard about the importance of providing Aboriginal youth with role models. Awareness and outreach campaigns can represent a positive avenue for industry to encourage Aboriginal youth to participate in key employment opportunities, such as in the natural resource development sector. Industry-led outreach activities can provide an early opportunity to engage with and educate Aboriginal youth in the employment possibilities occurring near their communities and in various sectors of the economy. This provides youth with a chance to prepare for their careers and find gainful employment, and also helps to ensure the skilled labour being produced reflects the needs of industry.

The success of ASETS is possible because of the support and the partnerships between the private sector and Aboriginal communities and organizations. In sectors with a high demand for workers, such as the resource-based industries, some employers are investing in training and post-secondary programs in partnership with existing local institutions, to develop community-based and on-the-job training programs. Other employers are investing in Aboriginal business development. The Committee acknowledges the importance of the private sector's participation, and encourages employers to continue to support skills development and training for Aboriginal people.

A recurring theme was the need to continue to provide child care support in order to allow parents, primarily women, to pursue training and/or employment opportunities. Accordingly, the Committee also recommends that the federal government consider expanding the child care program to include all Aboriginal people participating in training under ASETS.

The Committee also recognizes the need for cultural awareness training in post-secondary institutions and in the workplace. Aboriginal people face a major barrier to post-secondary education and employment when they have to leave their communities. Many witnesses described the culture shock resulting from relocation and suggested that supports must be available to facilitate this transition.

A young and rapidly growing population, Aboriginal people are a potentially significant domestic source of labour that could offset some of the demographic pressures of Canada’s ageing labour market. Given that education is a principal driver of employment and labour force participation, improving skills training and education outcomes will be critical for young Aboriginal people entering the labour market as well as for Canadian productivity generally as the Aboriginal share of the labour force grows.

Aboriginal people face many unique challenges and there is no one-size-fits-all program. ASETS agreement holders must ensure that service delivery organizations have the ability to tailor the programs to the unique needs of each Aboriginal person.

ASETS is a success story. The Committee also recognizes that there is still a lot to be done to ensure that Aboriginal people can take advantage of emerging employment opportunities. The Committee is hopeful that its recommendations will be considered in the development of a renewed strategy for Aboriginal employment and training, in order to ensure that we continue to build on the progress that has been made under ASETS.