Feds open call for SPF fund proposals
The federal government has opened a called for proposals for projects to augment the participation of Indigenous workers in the labour market.
Minister of Employment, Workforce Development and Disability Inclusion, Carla Qualtrough, launched the call under the Skills and Partnership Fund on February 28. The fund is a long-standing Indigenous labour market program that enables partnerships between Indigenous organizations and employers.
Through targeted projects, the program aims equips Indigenous people with the skills needed for in-demand jobs. The goal is to reduce the skills and employment gaps that exist between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people and increase Indigenous participation in the labour market.
“Indigenous people in this country face barriers to employment that many non-Indigenous Canadians do not,” said Qualtrough. “Through the Skills and Partnership Fund, Indigenous people will gain in-demand skills and experience in priority areas identified by their communities.”
Since the fund was created in 2010, its four calls for proposals have funded 130 projects serving more than 51,500 Indigenous clients. More than 40 percent of participants found employment or returned to school as a result.
According to Statistics Canada’s Labour Market Survey, the employment rate of Indigenous people not living on a reserve reached 58.4 percent, in January 2022, 2 percent higher than the pre-pandemic rate from January 2020.
The government says priority under this latest call will be given to projects in the infrastructure, green economy, blue economy and Indigenous public sectors.
Funding will be provided to projects that prepare and train Indigenous people for specific jobs that are demand-driven, and demonstrate partnerships that will develop training for employment activities aimed at improving employment outcomes of Indigenous people.
Organizations can apply by May 9.