Workforce connex - Aboriginal Human Resource Council
Workforce connex - Aboriginal Human Resource Council
Workforce connex - Aboriginal Human Resource Council
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Executive summaryForewordThis report is a summary of findings from the New Brunswick <strong>Workforce</strong>Connex forum. The findings outlined in this report are representative of theNew Brunswick participants and have not been altered or analyzed in any way.This summary is focused on the input participants shared duringinteractive roundtable and plenary discussions. The findings will serveas a starting point for the development of new private sector/<strong>Aboriginal</strong>employment centre partnerships in the New Brunswick region, andfor the development of the region’s go-forward action plans.The ‘AS SAID’ reports from across the country will be analyzed fortrends that will be captured in a comprehensive and integratednational report that will be used to shape initiatives in AHRC’snational <strong>Aboriginal</strong> trades and apprenticeship strategy.Synopsis<strong>Workforce</strong> Connex is a national forum series that has been designedto increase <strong>Aboriginal</strong> participation in targeted trades employment andapprenticeship programs. The intent is for the forum is to create, strengthenand leverage regional partnerships and collaborative networks that offerresolve to <strong>Aboriginal</strong> employment training, recruitment and retention issues.On May 9, 2007, a group of committed stakeholders representing privatesector employers, <strong>Aboriginal</strong> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Resource</strong> Development Agreementholders (AHRDAs), government and educators convened at the NewBrunswick <strong>Workforce</strong> Connex forum in Saint John, New Brunswick todiscuss ideas and commitments that will increase <strong>Aboriginal</strong> participationin trades and apprenticeship in the New Brunswick region.The discussion occurred in six stages:Part 1: Opening Address: Claudette Bradshaw, past Minister of<strong>Human</strong> <strong>Resource</strong> and Social Development Canada and currentlead on the New Brunswick Community Non-Profit Task Force,delivered a very powerful and passionate opening address tostimulate the critical need to advance the <strong>Aboriginal</strong> workforce.Brunswick labour market and skill shortages in order toprovide participants with context for their discussions.Part 4: Supply/Demand Issues Roundtable: The first part of thediscussion helped <strong>Aboriginal</strong> employment agencies and the AHRDAcommunity (supply side) understand various employment trendsand challenges that employers face in New Brunswick. To open thediscussion, Alex Dedam, Co-Chair, Joint Economic DevelopmentInitiative provided an overview of AHRDAs in New Brunswick.The second part of the discussion helped employers (demand side) to betterunderstand the foundation, role and employment challenges of AHRDAs,other <strong>Aboriginal</strong> employment agencies, and their clients in New Brunswick.To open the discussion, a three-person panel provided insight on the joband employment opportunities that exist for <strong>Aboriginal</strong> people in theirrespective industries. Panel members were; Stan Bear, Community Liaison,Maritime and Northeast Pipeline, Tim Flood, Vice-Chair, Construction Sector<strong>Council</strong>, Rita Hurley, New Brunswick Power Ombudsman, NB Power.Part 5: Keynote: An overview of the Atlantic Policy Congress Roundtablewas delivered by Cheryl Knockwood, Senoir Policy Analyst, AtlanticPolicy Congress of First Nations Chiefs and Penny Polchies, CommunityEconomic Development Advisor, Ulnooweg Development Group.Part 6: Strategies and Commitments: Participants builta list of commitments to ensure the value of the forumwould extend into actions and long-term partnerships.Through the facilitation of local professionals, participants were able toshare their ideas and help each other increase mutual understandingabout the challenges and successes to increase <strong>Aboriginal</strong> participation inthe New Brunswick labour market. There was a consensus that increasedmomentum is required to drive the connections between the supply side(AHRDAs and <strong>Aboriginal</strong> organizations) and the demand side (employers).It was recognized that the forum was a beginning; an opportunityto actively and consciously begin to move the agenda forward inNew Brunswick. As a starting point, 39 commitments were made.Part 2: Walk in my Shoes – Personal Connection: In an effortto better understand each other’s challenges, the conversationreversed roles whereby the delegates representing AHRDAs were askedto walk in the shoes of employers and participants representingemployers were asked to walk in the moccasins of AHRDAs.Part 3: Market Highlights: Samuel LeBreton, Senior Economist,Service Canada delivered a presentation on the New<strong>Aboriginal</strong> <strong>Human</strong> <strong>Resource</strong> <strong>Council</strong>New Brunswick <strong>Workforce</strong> Connex Report