CHAMBER OF COMMERCE PARTNERS WITH PROVINCE

The Government of Saskatchewan and the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce signed a landmark partnership agreement today that will boost business and employment opportunities for Aboriginal people.

"This partnership has significant implications for promoting Aboriginal participation in Saskatchewan's economy because it will help inform the Aboriginal community of business opportunities in the province," Premier Lorne Calvert said. "Our goal is to ensure that Aboriginal people have full access to business and workforce opportunities available in our province."

"As the voice of Saskatchewan business, the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce understands that Aboriginal people need the information and skills required to fully participate in the provincial economy, and that employers need to make workplaces more accessible to Aboriginal workers," Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce President Warren Michelson said. "These goals are key to the future economic vitality of our province, and are a priority for the Chamber under its Action Saskatchewan initiative."

The Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce is a voluntary organization that promotes civic, commercial, and industrial progress in communities and the province in general. Its membership includes individual businesses from across the province and a number of provincial business and professional associations. As of October 2003, there were 1,289 members belonging to the Saskatchewan Chamber of Commerce.

This will be the 55th partnership agreement for the Aboriginal Employment Development Program. Through the program, nearly 1,800 Aboriginal people have successfully competed for jobs, more than 900 Aboriginal people have completed training directly linked to employment with partners and over 7,000 employees have received cultural awareness education.

The Aboriginal Employment Development Program strives to build a representative workforce in Saskatchewan where Aboriginal people compete for jobs on a level playing field based on their skills and qualifications, and are represented at all occupational levels in proportion to their representation in the working age population.

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For More Information, Contact:

Maureen Boyle Government Relations and Aboriginal Affairs Regina Phone: (306)787-5959