$500,000 for Aboriginal youth facing barriers to employment

On May 5, the Minister of Employment, Manpower Development and Labour, Patty Hajdu, highlighted a $500,000 investment by the federal government in the “FabLab ONAKI” of the First Peoples’ Innovation Centre.

FabLab ONAKI is an empowerment and socio-professional integration program for Aboriginal youth located at 173 A Boulevard Saint-Joseph in Gatineau. With this investment, the federal government is helping 36 Aboriginal youth in Gatineau overcome various barriers and acquire the skills and knowledge necessary to make an effective transition to either the labour market or back to school.

With the money invested, FabLab ONAKI participants will be employed in the public, private and non-profit sectors for at least 12 weeks.

This announcement was made as part of the new Youth Employment and Skills Strategy (YES) announced by the Minister on June 3.

To help young people acquire the skills and experience they need to find and keep a good job, Budget 2019 provides an additional $49.5 million over five years to implement this new, modernized youth employment and skills strategy.