Post by Ducky on Jan 12, 2005 21:37:35 GMT -5
Wed, January 12, 2005
More jobs for natives
City unveils its new 7.7% hiring strategy
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER/wpg sun
The city plans to hire more aboriginal and Metis people to make its work force better represent Winnipeg's population. The strategy is partly aimed at meeting a demand from native groups that they make up a much larger portion of the municipal workforce.
"This isn't lip service. I don't do lip service. We want to make this happen," Mayor Sam Katz said yesterday.
REPRESENT POPULATION
Katz said the goal is to beef up the Metis and First Nations component of the city's 8,000-strong workforce to 7.7% from its current 5.3% -- about 420 aboriginal employees.
The mayor signed an agreement with the Manitoba Metis Federation and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to train and recruit indigenous peoples for firefighting, police, transit and other operations.
Officials said it's crucial to bring aboriginals aboard to represent their population as it grows.
Statistics Canada's 2001 census found 52,000 aboriginals in Winnipeg, up 21% from 1996.
"Our goal is to be at or above the labour market," said equity co-ordinator Jackie Halliburton. "We should be doing a better job."
Projections show that one in five or one in three people seeking work in the 'Peg will soon be aboriginal, the city says.
Katz said details on recruitment and training will be completed as soon as possible, "and now we're actively going to start making it happen."
David Chartrand, president of the Metis federation, is pumped about putting "hundreds and hundreds" of his people into better lifestyles.
"These are well-paying jobs that will change the people's lives overnight," Chartrand said. "And maybe give them a significant, hopeful venture for the future for their children."
Halliburton stressed the project won't mean non-natives receive less consideration for hiring.
No time deadlines have been set, Katz said, adding that the number of possible jobs for aboriginals is a "living organism" that will change.
"Our goal is to get to 7.7%. We intend to do that in the very near future," the mayor added.
"I'm not going to tell you it's going to be next month or next year, but that is what we intend to do and I think we can grow from there as well."
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More jobs for natives
City unveils its new 7.7% hiring strategy
By ROSS ROMANIUK, CITY HALL REPORTER/wpg sun
The city plans to hire more aboriginal and Metis people to make its work force better represent Winnipeg's population. The strategy is partly aimed at meeting a demand from native groups that they make up a much larger portion of the municipal workforce.
"This isn't lip service. I don't do lip service. We want to make this happen," Mayor Sam Katz said yesterday.
REPRESENT POPULATION
Katz said the goal is to beef up the Metis and First Nations component of the city's 8,000-strong workforce to 7.7% from its current 5.3% -- about 420 aboriginal employees.
The mayor signed an agreement with the Manitoba Metis Federation and Assembly of Manitoba Chiefs to train and recruit indigenous peoples for firefighting, police, transit and other operations.
Officials said it's crucial to bring aboriginals aboard to represent their population as it grows.
Statistics Canada's 2001 census found 52,000 aboriginals in Winnipeg, up 21% from 1996.
"Our goal is to be at or above the labour market," said equity co-ordinator Jackie Halliburton. "We should be doing a better job."
Projections show that one in five or one in three people seeking work in the 'Peg will soon be aboriginal, the city says.
Katz said details on recruitment and training will be completed as soon as possible, "and now we're actively going to start making it happen."
David Chartrand, president of the Metis federation, is pumped about putting "hundreds and hundreds" of his people into better lifestyles.
"These are well-paying jobs that will change the people's lives overnight," Chartrand said. "And maybe give them a significant, hopeful venture for the future for their children."
Halliburton stressed the project won't mean non-natives receive less consideration for hiring.
No time deadlines have been set, Katz said, adding that the number of possible jobs for aboriginals is a "living organism" that will change.
"Our goal is to get to 7.7%. We intend to do that in the very near future," the mayor added.
"I'm not going to tell you it's going to be next month or next year, but that is what we intend to do and I think we can grow from there as well."
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/Statistics Canada's 2001 census found 52,000 aboriginals in Winnipeg, up 21% from 1996.
I do wonder if those stats are correct? I hope those stats correspond with the reserve numbers, or can one have more than one home
I do wonder if those stats are correct? I hope those stats correspond with the reserve numbers, or can one have more than one home