FSIN Chief “Hurt” By Worker Recruitment In Ontario
Monday, November 03, 2008 at 13:04
The chief of the FSIN used this morning’s opening address at a national minerals conference to call on industry to build alliances with First Nations people.
Lawrence Joseph was speaking at the Canadian Aboriginal Minerals conference in Saskatoon.
He says First Nations people are the largest, youngest and fastest-growing demographic . . . and yet, the province looks elsewhere to fill labour shortages.
Joseph is calling on industry to help First Nations convince the government to develop people in Saskatchewan first.
He says when the provincial government “goes shopping for expertise in Ontario, it really hurts me”.
Joseph says, last year in Saskatchewan, there were 3,000 First Nations people enrolled in post-secondary education.
He also notes success stories of First Nations working in the mining industry, pointing to reserves in the province’s north.
The conference runs today and tomorrow.