RECOMMENDATION 1

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to invest in stable and long-term funding for early childhood education programs for Aboriginal people.

RECOMMENDATION 2

The Committee recommends that the federal government cover the cost of essential-skills, high-school-equivalency and upgrading programs to facilitate entry into post-secondary education. This funding could be delivered through a post-2015 Aboriginal labour market program such as the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.

RECOMMENDATION 3

The Committee recommends that federally funded training programs for Aboriginal people encourage early exposure for students in secondary school to industries offering employment opportunities, including the resource extraction and related industries.

RECOMMENDATION 4

The Committee recommends that federally funded training programs for Aboriginal people encourage service delivery organizations to include the involvement of successful role models in their training.

RECOMMENDATION 5

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to support initiatives that provide Aboriginal people with access to high-quality training in essential skills, including individualized training programs where appropriate.

RECOMMENDATION 6

The Committee recommends that the federal government encourage industry partners to implement new or enhance existing Aboriginal cultural awareness programs and to foster improved cultural understanding in the workplace.

RECOMMENDATION 7

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in its Aboriginal programs, take into account the importance of comprehensive support services in several areas of the lives of Aboriginal people to allow them to overcome barriers to their success in the labour force.

RECOMMENDATION 8

The Committee recommends that the government consider offering business tax credits and/or other incentives to companies assisting new Aboriginal small businesses in remote areas.

RECOMMENDATION 9

The Committee recommends that the federal government work with industry to encourage the creation of a forum for Aboriginal communities, government and industry to share best practices about successful training, employment and procurement initiatives to improve Aboriginal training and employment outcomes.

RECOMMENDATION 10

The Committee recommends that the federal government renew the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy, or a similar program, for a minimum of five years, determine the terms and conditions of the new program, and communicate that decision expeditiously to all parties involved to avoid gaps in programming and cuts to personnel.

RECOMMENDATION 11

The Committee recommends that Employment and Social Development Canada continue its efforts through the working group to find solutions to the reporting problem related to the agreements under the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy. All options should be considered in the discussions surrounding the potential renewal of the Strategy.

RECOMMENDATION 12

The Committee recommends that the federal government encourage multiple agreement holders who cover areas in proximity to each other to work collaboratively on administrative matters, which could allow for savings to be made and reinvested in additional technology or training opportunities.

RECOMMENDATION 13

The Committee recommends that the federal government continue to make quality and safe child care an integral part of the skills development and training component under the recommended renewal of the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy. The government should also consider offering child care dollars to all Aboriginal people taking part in skills and training programming under the Strategy.

RECOMMENDATION 14

The Committee recommends that the federal government examine, through consultations with Aboriginal agreement holders and the upcoming evaluation of the Strategy, whether there is a need to allocate predictable and flexible funding under the recommended new Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy.

RECOMMENDATION 15

The Committee recommends that the federal government ensure that future programming under the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy be responsive to and inclusive of all Aboriginal constituencies where feasible.

RECOMMENDATION 16

The Committee recommends that the federal government increase its activities to promote the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy to the business community and that it encourage industry groups to make investments in skills development and training programs.

RECOMMENDATION 17

The Committee recommends that the federal government review the Aboriginal Skills and Employment Training Strategy and the Skills and Partnership Fund delivery models with respect to employment outcomes, possible overlap and mandates.

RECOMMENDATION 18

The Committee recommends that the federal government, in collaboration with provincial and territorial governments, review the possibility of expanding the eligibility for apprenticeship grants to younger apprentices who are beginning their program in the last year of their high school education, and assess whether there is a need to increase the amount of financial support or modify its delivery.