The Harper Conservatives have broken yet another budget promise, and this time, Aboriginal people seeking job skills are paying the price, Liberal Aboriginal Affairs Critic Todd Russell said today.
“Stephen Harper doesn’t care about Aboriginal Canadians hurt by the jobs crisis,” said Mr. Russell. “If he did, he wouldn’t have left $75 million on the table that could be helping private companies train First Nations, Metis and Inuit people for jobs that need to be filled.”
Mr. Russell revealed that no funding has flowed and no projects have been approved under the Aboriginal Skills and Training Investment Fund, first announced seven months ago in Budget 2009. The two year, $75 million fund was intended to provide short term support to aboriginal people to get them the specific skills necessary to fill specific jobs that are known to exist by linking aboriginal employment service organizations to employers who need workers.
“Seven months later – and a far cry from Minister Flaherty’s 120 budget action promise – Aboriginal Canadians are still missing out on job opportunities,” said Mr. Russell. “Canada is falling behind, but the only job Stephen Harper cares about is his own.”
“Harper cannot do better. Canada must.”
