More than 1,100 Aboriginal workers
are now entering the trades
annually in BC
Provincial and federal governments are
funding and supporting initiatives to employ First Nations workers. For example, BC
has an active initiative to train and hire new
workers in trade occupations. The Aboriginals
in Trades Training program, which is funded
by federal-provincial government labour
market agreements32 and managed by BC’s
Industry Training Authority (ITA), has been
instrumental in doubling trades training
enrolment since 2006-2007.33 According to
the ITA, more than 1,100 Aboriginal workers
are now entering the trades annually in
BC.34
Supported by government funding, many
Aboriginal training organizations have
been established in BC to boost Aboriginal
employment at the local level. The North
Vancouver Island Aboriginal Training Society
(NVIATS) is one example. Operating under
the Aboriginal Skills and Employment
Training Strategy (ASETS), which is funded
by Employment and Socia ]