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Harper Government Investing in Preparing Aboriginal Youth for the Labour Market Monday, 30 July 2012
OTTAWA, ONTARIO (July 30, 2012) – The Honourable John Duncan, Minister of
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development, today announced that funding for the
Cultural Connections for Aboriginal Youth Program (CCAY) will now be made available
for projects eligible under the programs new terms and conditions.

“Our objective is to deliver a program that is aligned with a priority we share with the
National Association of Friendship Centres (NAFC): equipping young Aboriginal people
with the skills and experiences they need to participate more fully in Canada’s
economy,” said Minister Duncan. “I am pleased that we now have terms and conditions
that will allow us to release funds to projects that will do just that.”

Funding for the CCAY program was temporarily frozen to allow a review of its terms and
conditions to be undertaken. Working with the NAFC to ensure CCAY is meeting the
most pressing needs of Aboriginal youth will lead to a more effective program that will
ultimately help them to achieve the prosperity they seek, and that Canada needs.
Aboriginal Affairs and Northern Development Canada (AANDC) will continue to
collaborate with the NAFC to address the needs of Aboriginal youth.

“Confirmation of the CCAY funds being unfrozen by the federal government is very
positive news for Friendship Centres and for urban Aboriginal youth across this
country,” said Vera Pawis Tabobondung, President of the NAFC. “I am very encouraged
that the transfer of program responsibilities to AANDC at the beginning of the fiscal year
has led to the stabilizing of these funds which means that youth programs can now be
consistent year after year – the reliability of programming is critical for Aboriginal youth
especially when developing job readiness skills that will lead to future employment,” she
stated.

CCAY, with the new criteria, will continue to support community-based, youth-led
activities. The program was transferred to AANDC on April 1, 2012, along with the
Aboriginal Friendship Centre Program (AFCP) and Young Canada Works for Aboriginal
Urban Youth (YCW). AANDC is working to align these programs with the Urban
Aboriginal Strategy.

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This release is also available on the Internet at www.aandc.gc.ca.
For more information, please contact:
Minister’s Office                                                         Media Relations
Jan O’Driscoll                                                             Aboriginal Affairs and Northern
Press Secretary                                                         Development Canada
Office of the Honourable John Duncan                    819-953-1160
819-997-0002

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