Premier Brad Wall says he open to ideas on improving First Nations employment but don’t expect the province to reinstate a an Aboriginal job plan started by the previous NDP government and cancelled by the Sask Party a number of years ago.
University of Saskatchewan professor Eric Howe released a report on Monday that states the government’s decision to cancel the Aboriginal Employment Development Program was a mistake and the government may want to look at reinstating it.
However, Wall says the program was ineffective and bringing it back is not on the table.
The Premier says the government takes the issue of Aboriginal employment very seriously and is looking at a number of new initiatives to tackle the problem.
Wall also says his government has no intention of slowing the flow of new immigrants into Saskatchewan.
Wall was responding to Howe’s comments that the government’s expansion of its immigrant nominee program to unskilled workers has cost First Nations jobs.
The Premier says his government wants to grow the province’s population and there is plenty of room and jobs for everyone.
Minister responsible for First Nations, Métis and Northern Affairs Jim Reiter was also busy defending the government’s record
He says the AEDP cost $800,000 a year to create about 200 jobs per year.
Reiter says since the program was cut, spending for aboriginal job training has increased $9 million a year and other programs, like Northern Career Quest, are creating far more jobs.
He adds we can expect more announcements in the spring budget.