Top Economist Touts On-The-Job Training Of Natives

Top Economist Touts On-The-Job Training Of Natives

Tuesday, October 20, 2009 at 15:38

Employers need to look at different ways of filling positions if Canada and Saskatchewan are going to have any growth, according to TD Bank Financial Group Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist Don Drummond.

He spoke at a business luncheon in Saskatoon today put on by the Canadian Council for Aboriginal Business.

Drummond says in some cases, employers need to look at on-the-job training, because he says there is a large number of Aboriginal people who could work but don’t necessarily have the education.

Drummond says that Indian and Northern Affairs Canada spends roughly $100 million on education each year — when a parliamentary study indicates it should be three times that.

Drummond says the consequence is that Aboriginal people, compared to non-Aboriginals, are not as educated and therefore not represented in the workforce.