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Ending the Cycle of Poverty and Moving towards Independence through ASEP
“The Bridges and Foundations for Aboriginal Development Project has helped improve my lifestyle by guiding me in the right direction and helping me move away from the cycle of poverty,”
said Tyson Crate, a carpenter with Whole Construction in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. “The project has friendly, helpful and supportive staff, and I thank them all for their assistance in helping me reach my goal of independence.”
Tyson learned about the Bridges and Foundations for Aboriginal Development Project when he was looking for training and job opportunities.
“The program has reassured me that the career goal I’ve chosen is the right one by providing opportunities that may have not been available before,”
said Tyson. He also feels that this experience will provide him with the essential skills he needs to continue working towards future aspirations. “I would recommend this program to others who want to become more self-sufficient and independent in all aspects of life. If I had to do it all over again, I would!”
As an Aboriginal Skills and Employment Partnership (ASEP) project, the Bridges and Foundations for Aboriginal Development Project will train about 600 Aboriginal people and provide at least 400 participants with long-term jobs in the Saskatoon-area construction industry. Special consideration will be given to promoting the employment of Aboriginal youth, women in non-traditional occupations and people with disabilities. The Government of Canada is investing $2.9 million in this project under the 2009 Economic Action Plan.
Originally launched in 2003 as an $85-million, five-year program supporting nine projects, the ASEP program resulted in over 7,500 Aboriginal people receiving training, with more than 3,500 of them finding long-term, sustainable jobs. In 2007, ASEP was extended to 2012 with an additional $105 million to support 16 more projects. Through Canada’s Economic Action Plan, the Government is investing an additional $100 million in ASEP over three years to help Aboriginal people participate in the workforce and get the training they need to make the most of employment opportunities.